Lagos Assembly Set To Hold Town Hall Meetings In 40 Constituencies

The Lagos State House of Assembly has earmarked Tuesday 10 November, 2015 to hold town hall meetings simultaneously in all the 40 constituencies in the state.

According to the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, who moved a Motion on the issue during plenary on Thursday 5th November, 2015, the town hall meetings was necessary to further educate the constituents about what the legislators have been doing since they resumed office.

He stated that it is important for lawmakers to know the needs of their people and educate them about the works of legislators.

“It would be good for the lawmakers and the constituents to have a good relationship and the people should be better educated about the job of lawmakers and the differences in the works of the three arms of government such as the executive, the legislative and the judiciary,” he said.

He added that there is an opportunity for the people, who might not have the opportunity of making their presentations during the meetings to submit their memorandum in the Assembly on Wednesday 11th and Thursday 12th, November, 2015 and that all the reports would be collated and submitted to the authorities for necessary treatments.

The motion was subsequently supported by Hon. Rotimi Olowo from Shomolu Constituency 1.

In his comments, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa said that the lawmakers were sent to the House and that there is need for them to go back to give the people feedback, which he said is what representation is all about.

He said further that there is need to tell the people about what they are doing as their representatives for the progress of the state, adding that It is better to do the town hall meeting so that the people would not reject them in four years, when it is time for another election.

“We have to go back home to hear from the people so that we can have a good relationship with them. We are inviting all the people from all spheres of life for the programme, but we will need only the representatives of the people so that it would not be rowdy.

“We have invited leaders such as traditional rulers, politicians, traders, marketers, CDAs, CDCs, transporters, physically challenged people, students and others as it would be advertised in the media. All the reports would be put together and submitted to the Governor for implementation,” he said.

Contributing, Hon. Victor Akande said that the meeting would draw the lawmakers closer to the people so that they would know their minds and appreciate what the lawmakers are doing.

Hon. Rotimi Olowo, who also contributed to the motion, stated that most of the people do not know the jobs of legislators, but that this could be sorted out during the meetings.

Also speaking, Hon. Bisi Yusuf from Alimosho Constituency 1 said that the move is a good development as it would assist the lawmakers to know what the people want.

In his comment, the Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Olumuyiwa Jimoh said that the time had come for the lawmakers to go back to their people and give them feedback.

“It is an opportunity to tell the people what we can do as legislators. I once told my people during one of the town hall meetings I held with them that it is not my job to handle electricity problem. We will use the event to educate the people about our job and those of the other two arms of government,” he said.

Hon. Tobun Abiodun from Epe Constituency 1 said in his contribution that the lawmakers should know the feelings of the people and that it would connect the people with the Governor in the long run.
Sent from my BlackBerr