Lagos Assembly summons, HOS, others over executive appointees without approval

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday frowned at executive appointees operating without due confirmation and approvals from the house, ordered the withdrawal of letters given to government appointees whose nominations should have been sent to the House for  their screening and confirmation, but who took up the jobs without the due process.

The House also ordered immediate halting of salaries and remunerations enjoyed by the affected government appointees pending their appearances before the House.

The Assembly further summoned three top officials over the issue.

Those summoned include the Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola, the Accountant-General of the State, Dr. Abiodun Muritala, and the state’s Commissioner for Establishment, Mrs. Ajibola Ponnle.

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In a ‘Matter of Urgent Public Importance’ brought before the House by Hon. Noheem Adams, Deputy Majority Leader, the lawmakers lamented the increasing situation where supposed nominees of the governor continue to work without being screened and confirmed by the House

Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, who presided at the sitting, agreed with the lawmakers that appointments of that nature without recourse to the House amounted to infractions.

“It is becoming common and regular and if we fail to act now, it becomes a norm. I share your sentiments that there is a need for us to put a stop to this. I am aware of the development in the Audit Commission, I am aware of the one in the Law Reform Commission and now the Auditor-General and some others,” he said.

Raising the issue earlier, Hon. Adams cited Section 196, subsection 2; Section 198 and Section 126, subsection 3 which give backing to the House of Assembly in respect of nominations by the governor for appointments.

“Section 126, subsection 3 provides that except with the resolution of a State Assembly, no person shall act in the office of the Auditor-General for a state for a period exceeding six months.

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“As the chairman, House committee on legislative compliance, I have observed that some appointments to boards and: other agencies were not brought to this noble House. If this persists, the principle of separation of powers will be in jeopardy.

“For example, the Auditor-General was appointed on September 22, 2022 and today is April 11, 2023,” Adams said, adding that the Auditor-General’s appointment in acting capacity had exceeded what the laws stipulate.

Hon. Rotimi Olowo, who noted the difference between nomination and appointment, lamented: “Today, we have a lot of people parading themselves with many names without appearing before this House for clearance. It should not be a padi-padi thing. This is a constitutional matter and if we do not adhere, we would end up facing the wrought of the people.”

He said it was an infraction to have people who are not cleared by the House receiving salaries and “I am of the opinion that such money is supposed to be returned to the coffers.”

Hon. Desmond Elliot called on the House to act in a way to curtail any future occurrence while Hon. Femi Saheed suggested that “in line with the constitution, anyone acting outside the stipulated time must recourse to the House.”

He further suggested that the Head of Service be made to appear before the House to clear himself over the issue.