Judicial Service Commission: Lagos Assembly Summons HOS Over Tenure Renewal

The Lagos State of Assembly has summoned the state Head of Service, Mrs. Folashade Jaji to appear before the House on Tuesday 28th, July over the elongation of the tenure of office of members of the state Judicial Service Commission.

Mrs. Folashade Jaji

This was in reaction to a letter sent to the House by members of the commission stating that they have been confirmed for another tenure of office by the Head of Service, who they said followed a due process on doing so.

According to the House, the continuation of tenure of office by members of the commission was a flagrant disregard for the provisions of Section 199 of the 1999 Constitution, which states that tenure of office of public officers should end automatically as at when due.

Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa

Reacting to the letter, the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa said that the Head of Service must be invited to educate the House on the due process that was followed in renewing the tenure of the members of the commission.

He said that the executive arm of government has not written the House to counter its position that the commission should be dissolved as its tenure has ended.

“The Head of Service should be invited tomorrow Tuesday, July 28 to appear before the House on the issue. It would also serve as a signal to other agencies and parastatals that once their tenure ends, they should leave office automatically,” he said.

Hon. Oluyinka Ogundimu from Agege Constituency 01 had earlier observed that the commission could not be a judge in their own case.

He said that the letter from the commission should have been from the Governor or the Head of Service, but that the resolution of the House on their tenure stands.

While agreeing with this, Hon. Lanre Ogunyemi from Ojo Constituency 02 said that the HOS must have acted in co-operation with higher authorities on the issue.

He added that the House respects the judicial arm of government, but that it cannot sacrifice its own constitutional responsibility.

Hon. Tunde Buraimo from Kosofe Constituency 02 observed that some government appointees overstay their terms of offices, adding that the commission cannot prevent the House from doing its jobs.

“We should make it clear that the names of appointees that are returning should be re-presented to the House and the Governor should be advised to dissolve the commission,” he said.

Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu from Eti-Osa Constituency 02 emphasised that people should leave office after the expiration of the their terms, adding that the executive arm of government makes regulations that don’t come into the House.

He stated that regulations are laws and that it is wrong for the executive to make such without informing the assembly because, according to him, the people are being short-changed by this.