2nd January, 2013
Most of the visitors to Nigeria’s Lagos State House of Assembly last Thursday could not hide their feelings over the usual delay in the commencement of sittings by the lawmakers.
There had been constant complaints by people and even some lawmakers about the delay in the commencement of sittings and the Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, at the valedictory sitting of the sixth Assembly had promised to turn a new leaf while apologising to his colleagues.
Though, within the first two months into the seventh Assembly, the Speaker and the lawmakers followed their resolutions, but had since gone back to what some of the visitors described as “their usual ways”.
As usual, the leader of the House, Dr. Ajibayo Adeyeye, last week Tuesday adjourned the sitting to Thursday by 10 am, but the sitting began at 3.15 p.m.
Some of the issues scheduled to be discussed in the Order Paper included: confirmation by the nominees as members of Lagos State House of Assembly Service Commission, clarification by the Project Director, Lagos Metropolitan Development and Governance Project (LMDGP) on non-appearance of the agency before the Committee on Finance and the laying of the Appropriation Bill, 2013.
Others included the presentation of Cremation Bill, 2012, the Lagos State Revenue Administration Bill, 2012, presentation of the Appropriation Bill, 2013 and presentation of a petition titled: “Save Our Soul” from Ogunnaike descendant family/Ajagungbale of Eruwen, Ikorodu
The alarm bell had rung at about 12.45 p.m. and some of the lawmakers were seen entering the chamber.
It was, however, disheartening to the visitors, many of whom dressed gorgeously to honour the confirmation of their friends and family members nominated into the membership of the House Service Commission, that by 3 p.m., the sitting had not commenced.
Many of them slept off on their seats at the gallery, while others went in search of food as they publicly complained of hunger after waiting for hours for the sitting to commence.
Many of the lawmakers idled away on their seats, waiting for the commencement of sitting which could only take place either with the entrance of the Speaker or through his instruction for the Deputy Speaker, Taiwo Kolawole, to preside at the sitting.
Speaker Ikuforiji, dressed in a brown flowing gown and a cap to match, walked into the chamber at exactly 3.15 for the sitting.
By this time, some of the visitors had left the chamber in annoyance.
The Speaker and the Leader of the House, Ajibayo Adeyeye, later re-adjusted the Order Paper by removing some of the items on the agenda slated for deliberation because they were behind time.
One of the visitors, who gave his name simply as Mr. Adewunmi, described the situation as “not too good for lawmakers who are supposed to be time conscious since they make the laws.
“They should know that people have other things to do.
“It is a House we are proud of, but on this late commencement of sitting, they should please adjust.”
When confronted, some of the lawmakers said the principal officers of the House would be in the best position to answer the question.
“You can see for yourself that we have been waiting for the sitting to commence. So it is not our fault,” one of the lawmakers said.