Lagos Assembly intensifies oversight on MDAs

Ibrahim Quadri

The Lagos Assembly Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Public Petitions and LASIEC has embarked on an oversight to the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) under its supervision.

The exercise is expected to end on May 8, 2024,  is aimed at establishing a cordial relationship between the Assembly and the MDAs for the progress of the State.

The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Oladipo Ajomale, who led the team, stated that the oversight function is one of the core responsibilities of the Assembly subject to the approval of the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa.

He added that after the visit, a comprehensive report would be presented by the Committee concerning its findings and  recommendations.

Other members of the committee during the visit included, Hon. Kehinde Joseph, Hon.Ajani Owolabi, and Hon.Bonu Solomon.

The Committee paid a visit to the Lagos State Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers, Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, Citizen Mediation Centre (CMC) as well as the Office of the Administrator-General and Public Trustees, Law Enforcement Training Institute (LETI), Office of Public Defender, and Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC).

Mrs. Shomade Rukayat, the Coordinator at the Lagos State Special Task Force, while receiving the Committee, explained that the department oversees the issue of land grabbing in the State. She added that the Task Force is a department under the Office of the Attorney-General of the State.

She said her Office does not receive petitions directly but that the petitions come from Office of the Attorney-General of the State to her Office.

Listing some challenges of the Special Task Force to include court adjournments and social/political interference, she called for synergy with MDAs while urging for a full upgrade of the Office to an Agency for better efficiency.

She also expressed optimism that the Land Grabbers Law of Lagos State would be reviewed to meet new developments.

At the Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, the Executive Secretary, Mrs. Titilayo Vivour-Adeniyi, explained that the agency is an organisation committed to ensuring total eradication of sexual and gender-based violence in the State.

“Our mission is to provide sensitive services to victims of domestic and sexual violence while promoting healthy relationships as we strive to enhance our coordinated community response to domestic and sexual violence in Lagos State and indeed in Nigeria,” she emphasized.

She listed inadequate running cost, issues with decentralized services and sub-offices as challenges faced by the agency while urging for the establishment of more designated Police stations to facilitate reporting and investigation of cases, increased capacity during weekends.

She further requested for an amendment of the Law guiding the agency to make it possible to criminalize spousal battery and decentralisation of operations.

The Chairman of the Committee, thereafter, directed that all prayers should be put in writing and submitted to his Office for further scrutiny.