2023 Appropriation Bill passes second reading as lawmakers summon top Lagos State officials.

Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports

Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have read the Appropriation Bill for 2023 presented by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for the second time.
With the Bill having passed the second reading, House Speaker Mudashiru Obasa referred it to a joint committee on Budget and Finance, with a mandate to report back to the House on December 12.

Track News recalls that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu presented the 2023 Appropriation Bill titled ‘Budget of Continuity’ to the House on Thursday, October 29.

The lawmakers described the proposed budget as achievable in plenary on Tuesday, while also suggesting other areas where the government could generate more funds.

Gbolahan Yishawu, chairman of the House Committee on Economic Planning and Budget, provided details on the Appropriation Bill, while some of his colleagues praised the Executive Arm.

Demolition is planned.
Meanwhile, the House of Assembly summoned Moruf-Akinderu Fatai, Commissioner for Housing, and Mr. Oluwatobi Lawal, Managing Director of the Lagos Building Investment Company (LBIC), in connection with allegations of a planned demolition of some houses in Eti-Jakande Osa’s Estate.

The estate’s affected residents were also summoned.

The matter was brought up as a ‘Matter of Urgent Public Importance’ by Hon. Noheem Adams is the House Deputy Majority Leader.

Hon. Adams told his colleagues that residents aged 70 to 80 stormed his house in the early hours of Tuesday, pleading with the government to stop demolishing their homes.

The majority of the residents used to live in Maroko before their homes were demolished in the 1990s and they were relocated to the Jakande Estate, according to the lawmaker.

He claimed that the residents had lived peacefully until recently, when they began receiving threats that their building would be demolished.

The residents, according to Adams, had written a petition to the Speaker, and their collective grievance was already being addressed by the House Committee on Public Petitions, which is chaired by Hon. Akande, Victor

He went on to say that on September 23, 2022, some House members led by Hon. Akande went to the Jakande Estate with some LBIC officials who had promised not to demolish any buildings in the area.

“However, on October 12, LBIC officials went to the estate to mark houses for demolition,” he explained.

In his statement, Hon. Rotimi Olowo described the residents’ situation as “pathetic.” He stated that the parties are expected to reach an agreement because the estate’s owners have invested heavily in the property.

Hon. Olowo was there to support him. Adewale Temitope, who urged a peaceful resolution to the dispute.

Before approving the commissioner’s and LBIC’s invitations, Speaker Obasa stated that there was a need to understand the government’s position before making a decision on the issue.

He also agreed that property owners and the government should work together and communicate effectively.