Lagos Assembly stops salaries of unconfirmed appointees

The Lagos State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, ordered the withdrawal of letters given to government appointees who took up jobs without being screened for confirmation by the Assembly.

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

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Eromosele Ebhomele.

The statement read in part, “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.

“The Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, who presided at the sitting, 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.”