HOS, Accountant-General, others summoned
Lagos State House of Assembly has ordered the withdrawal of appointment letters of government appointees, who took up the job without due process.
The House also ordered the halting of their salaries and remunerations, pending their appearance before it.
Three top government officials were summoned over the issue. They are Head of Service Hakeem Muri-Okunola, state Accountant-General Dr. Abiodun Muritala and Commissioner for Establishment Mrs. Ajibola Ponnle.
In a ‘Matter of Urgent Public Importance’ brought before the House by Deputy Majority Leader Noheem Adams, the lawmakers berated the appointment of government officials, who continued to work without the House’ screening and confirmation.
Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, who presided over yesterday’s plenary, agreed with the lawmakers that appointments of that nature without recourse to the House amounted to infractions.
He said laws of the House of Assembly had statutory provisions that nominees of the governor must appear for confirmation.
He said: “I quite agree 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.
“It is becoming common and regular, and if we fail to act now, it becomes a norm. I share your sentiments that there is need for us to put a stop to this. I am aware of the development in the Audit Commission, the one in the Law Reform Commission and now the Auditor-General and some others.”
Raising the issue earlier, Adams cited Section 196 (2), Section 198 and Section 126 (3), which give backing to the House of Assembly in respect of nominations by the governor for appointments.
He said: “Section 126 (3) provides that except with the resolution of a State Assembly, no person shall act in the office of the Auditor-General for a state for a period exceeding six months. As chairman of the House committee on Legislative Compliance, I have observed that some appointments to boards and other agencies were not brought to this noble House. If this persists, the principle of separation of powers will be in jeopardy.
“The Auditor-General was appointed on September 22, 2022 and today is April 11, 2023. His appointment in acting capacity has exceeded what the laws stipulate.”
Supporting Adams, Ademola Kasunmu said the stipulations of Section 198 should be strictly adhered to, adding that because such appointments were considered null and void, every remuneration that had gone out should be returned to the coffers of the state.
Rotimi Olowo, who noted the difference between nomination and appointment, lamented: “Today, we have a lot of people parading themselves with many names without appearing before this House for clearance. It should not be a man-know-man thing. This is a constitutional matter and if we do not adhere, we will end up facing the wrought of the people. It is also an infraction for persons not cleared by the House to receive salaries. Such money, I believe, should be returned to state coffers.
-Thenation
