Sanwo-Olu’s New Cabinet: Lagos Assembly Draws The Line Kunle Awosiyan

Trouble may be brewing between the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Honourable Mudashiru Obasa as the government gradually rolls into a new four- year-tenure.

At present, a lot of politicking is going underground about who and who will form the next Lagos State Executive Council.

Last week, the state governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Oluinaugurated his chief of staff, Tayo Ayinde and his deputy, Gboyega Soyanwo. He also swore-in the secretary to the state government, Bimbola Salu-Hudeyin.

As the public awaits those that will form Sanwo-Olu’s larger cabinet, the appointments and consequent approval of commissioners, special advisers, personal assistants and technical assistants by the assembly may not be a smooth ride as it was in the past.

Towards the end of the ninth assembly, the legislature stopped the salaries of some unconfirmed Sanwo-Olu’s appointees for lacking its approval. The decision by the lawmakers marked thebeginning of hostility between the executive and the legislative arms of the government.

As a matter of fact, some members of the executive who were nursing the ambition of returning for the second term never wanted the assembly speaker, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa to be re-elected, sensing that with him in the seat, they might not scale the sceening.

It was gathered that the state governor, Sanwo-Olu himself was not happy with Obasa’s decision at the time and would not mind that a new speaker emerged that can give his appointees pat on the back.

However, the plan to upstage Obasa with Hon. Abiodun Tobun representing Epe constituency could not work as the former speaker was returned for the third term about two weeks ago.

Of course, the state governor denied having a special candidate for the speakership position and that he was looking forward to a symbiotic relationship with the assembly for the next four years.

This, he may not get as there are plans by the leadership of the assembly to thoroughly screen every of Sanwo-Olu’s nominees for the cabinet and non-cabinet position of the state executive council.

A source told our correspondent that the house of assembly had drawn the line and would be strict with the screening of Sanwo-Olu’s nominees. This, according to investigation will make the governor to sit up.

“There are some criteria that the lawmakers overlook in the screening. This won’t happen again. This is not to frustrate the government but to ensure that the right people are in the right position,” the source said.

Recall that the state assembly ordered the withdrawal of letters given to some government appointees who took up jobs without being screened for confirmation by the legislature during the first term of Sanwo-Olu.

The house ordered the halting of salaries and remunerations enjoyed by the appointees and summoned the Head of Service, Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola; the Accountant-General of the state, Dr Abiodun Muritala; and then former state’s Commissioner for Establishment, Mrs Ajibola Ponnle, over the issue.

In a statement, tagged “In a ‘Matter of Urgent Public Importance’ brought before the House by Honourable Noheem Adams, Deputy Majority Leader, the lawmakers lamented the increasing situation where supposed nominees of the governor continue to work without being screened and confirmed by the House in his first term.

It took the speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, who presided at the sitting at the time to persuade his colleagues to be less strict with the appointees even though he agreed with the lawmakers that appointments of that nature without recourse to the House amounted to infractions.

The Speaker was quoted as saying, “I quite agree with all of you that the failure of such nominees to appear is an infraction or violation of the laws of this House, especially as it relates to the MDAs, most of which were established by the laws of this House.”

Echonews learnt that the era of “take a bow” by nominees had since passed away and that Sanwo-Olu should be ready to present his best aides whose resumes can scale through the assembly’s screening.

Obasa as a speaker has no problem, he overlooks some things, yet somebody sponsored some lawmakers to gang up against him, according to a close ally of the speaker.

Notwithstanding that the assembly had already passed a total of N1.8 trillion (₦1,768,014,155,285) as the budget for 2023 with the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, thanking the lawmakers for their collective sacrifice and the swiftness with which the Appropriation Bill was handled, there is still much to be settled between the executive and the legislative arms.

Mr Obasa, who presided over the plenary, said the passion with which the lawmakers processed the bill for passage showed their love for the progress of Lagos State yet he was surprised that somebody was plotting against his reelection.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had in October 2022 presented the sum of N1.69 trillion ‘budget of continuity’ to the House but the assembly had to jack it up to about N1.8 trillion too enable the government carry out some projects.

While receiving the proposal from the governor, Mr Obasa had urged that the 2023 budget “should have more human face, be targeted at reducing poverty and improving the welfare of the residents of the state as part of the THEMES agenda of the administration.”

The house is waiting to see the nominees who are going to implement the budget with their proposals, which must be in line with the laws of the state. Nevertheless, the governor had said during the inauguration of the 10th assembly that his administration would maintain a peaceful relationship with the new house.

Sanwo-Olu said he had stood neutral in the selection process and that his interest was in how he could work together, irrespective of who is the speaker to fulfill the shared responsibilities to the people of Lagos state.

He urged the 10th Assembly to ensure cooperation, dialogue, and mutual respect with the executive arm, for a ‘Greater Lagos Rising’.

According to him, the executive and the legislature are partners in this democratic journey, and the shared goal is to create a Lagos where everyone thrives, where opportunities abound, and where cultural diversity propels all forward.

”I stand ready to work with the 10th assembly, collaborating to drive impactful policies, and fostering an environment where the hopes and dreams of every Lagos residents can be realised.