Lagos House Moves To New Complex

Prominent Nigerians this morning gathered at the Lagos State House of Assembly for the grand opening of the ultra-modern complex which would henceforth be the chamber for plenary activities of the House.

The event also marked the first sitting in the new chamber by the lawmakers led by the Speaker of the House, Adeyemi Ikuforiji.

Those who witnessed the opening of the chamber include the National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria and former Governor of the state, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who had earlier been honoured as a member of the House, Deputy Governor of Lagos, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Senators, members of the House of Representatives and top Lagos government officials.

Former Governor of the state, Alhaji Lateef Jakande and his wife, Senator Olorunimbe Mamora, ACN stalwartss including National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the State Chairman of the party, Henry Ajomale, traditional rulers and a host of Speakers of State Houses of Assembly led by their Chairman and Speaker of Gombe Assembly, Mohammed Inuwa, were also in attendance.

The event was chaired by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal. He also commissioned the complex.

Speaker Ikuforji, in a documentary, had said the idea of the new complex was conceived during the tenure of former Governor Tinubu.

According to the lawmakers, the administration of Governor Babatunde Fashola released funds for the construction of the new chamber and the construction actually began on 2 May, 2009 and completed in January 2011.

The House also said with the new complex, the House had overcome the problem of insufficient space for lawmakers and members of the public especially during plenary sessions.

In his remarks, acting Clerk of the House, Olusegun Abiru, urged everyone present to celebrate the 40 lawmakers of the House for the feat, adding that he was optimistic that the new chamber would add to the effectiveness of the state legislature.

The complex has on the ground floor the reception, 54 seats for lawmakers, 177 seats for dignitaries, Speaker’s/guest rostrum, a lounge, technical room, external equipment room, 13 units of male and female conveniences, security room, executive office for Speaker and eight seats for clerks-at-the-table.

The first floor has 345 seats, choir arena, executive lounge, two press viewing rooms, a unit of male and female conveniences and observers’ stand while the second floor has two committee rooms, a press viewing room and two units of male and female conveniences.

The event was still on at the time of filing this report.

—Eromosele Ebhomele