Lagos Assembly Seeks Independent Financing Of Council Legislatures

Lagos State House of Assembly has called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to prevail on the state’s Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs, and Rural Development to develop a framework for independent financing of local government legislatures.

The Assembly also asked the governor to support council autonomy and ensure capacity-building training for councillors on financial management.

This resolution followed a motion by Hon. Sani Okanlawon on Tuesday during a plenary presided over by the Speaker of the Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa.

The Speaker expressed concern over former council chairmen allegedly retaining financial control in some councils through Council Managers and Treasurers who remain signatories to accounts even after leadership transitions.

Earlier in his motion, Okanlawon discussed the need for councillors’ financial independence to strengthen grassroots democracy and governance.

He restated that the 1999 Constitution recognises the legislative arm at the local government level as a key pillar of democratic governance, saddled with law-making, oversight, and representation.

Okanlawon, however, noted that local government legislatures currently rely on the executive branch for funding, a practice that undermines separation of powers and exposes councillors to undue executive influence.

To address the issue, the Assembly directed its Committee on Local Government Administration, Chieftaincy Affairs, and Rural Development to begin enacting a self-accounting law for the legislative arms of the councils.

Other lawmakers supported the motion. Hon. Solomon Bonu (Badagry I) commended President Bola Tinubu for strengthening grassroots democracy. At the same time, Hon. Desmond Elliot stressed that the Assembly’s reform efforts would be incomplete without granting autonomy to local government legislatures.