Ogun Assembly sacks LG chairmen, councillors

Tribune Online
Ogun Assembly sacks LG chairmen, councillors

THE Ogun State House of Assembly has reversed all appointments, employments and financial commitments carried out by the administration of the immediate past governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, from February 1 till May 28, 2019.

The assembly equally asked the state government to dissolve all statutory boards and parastatals, their members having been paid their severance allowance by the immediate past administration.

Also, the lawmakers suspended all political functionaries in all local government councils and local council development council areas (LCDAs).

This is just as the assembly also unanimously called for the reversal and review of the upgrading of all traditional rulers, including Obas and Baales, done within the same period for holistic assessment by the new administration.

The lawmakers, on Friday, at a plenary presided over by the Speaker, Honourable Suraj Adekunbi, passed a bill titled H.B 047/OG/2019 “Nullification of Irregularities (Amendment) Law, 2019,” following the suspension of the Assembly Order 45-48 to allow for the consecutive second and third readings of the bill.

The bill, which was read to members by the Deputy Clerk, Deji Adeyemo, was extensively debated by the lawmakers upon second reading, while a motion for the third reading was moved by the Majority Leader, seconded by Hon. Olawale Alausa and supported by the whole House through a voice vote.

The Deputy Speaker, Hon. Olakunle Oluomo, who opened debate on the bill, explained that the bill was an amendment to the one earlier passed by the assembly at the inception of the Senator Ibikunle-led government to reverse all irregularities, especially on employment of over 2,000 workers appointed by the administration of former Governor Gbenga Daniel a few months to the end of that administration.

In their submissions, Honourables Oluomo, Sonuga, Aina Akinpelu, Olusola Bankole and Adebowale Ojuri said the last-minute appointments, upgrading and employment by the last administration lacked merit, were lopsided and not done in good faith.

The lawmakers advised the new administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun not to honour any transactions by the last administration with any financial institutions if such transactions were not approved by the assembly.

The third reading of the bill was done by the Deputy Clerk, while the Speaker ordered that the clean copy of the bill be sent to Abiodun for assent.

The House, in passing a resolution asking the state government to immediately dissolve boards and parastatals, urged the chairmen to hand over government property in their custodies to the most senior director/public servants in their agencies for continued operation of government activities.

The assembly, through a resolution, suspended all political functionaries in all local government areas and LCDAs in the state and directed all political officeholders there to hand over to the Heads of Local Government Administration in their respective councils and LCDAs.

The House directed all chairmen and House leaders of the council areas to appear before it on June 7 for appropriate investigation of allegations of gross misconduct and misappropriation of public fund in petitions earlier submitted against some of the local government chairmen.

The assembly unanimously passed another resolution calling for the reversal and review of all the upgrading of traditional rulers for holistic assessment by the new administration with a view to promoting peaceful coexistence and entrenching good governance in the State.

Meanwhile, at the plenary, Adekunbi announced the appointment of Honourable Olusola Sonuga as the new Majority Leader of the assembly.

Ogun Assembly sacks LG chairmen, councillors
Tribune Online