An anti-corruption and accountability civil society organisation, the Human & Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre), termed the recent appointment of MC Oluomo, as the chairman of the newly constituted Lagos Parks and Garages Management Committee as illegal.
MC Oluomo was appointed by the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to manage and oversee the commercial motor parks and garages in the state.
The appointment of Oluomo was contained in a statement delivered by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso.
The group in a statement signed by its Directors said the appointment was illegal on the ground that there is currently no known law in Lagos State backing the appointment.
It also noted that based on the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the management of all parks, garages and bus stops within the state falls under the purview of the local government councils, and not the state government.
The groups referred to Section 1(e) of the Fourth Schedule to the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as altered) which provides thus: “The main functions of the local government council are as follows: (e)Establish maintenance and Regulation of slaughterhouses, slaughter slabs, Markets, ‘Motor Parks’ and Public conveniences (emphasizes ours).”
Oluomo who was the Chairman of NURTW (Lagos chapter) was sacked by the national body of NURTW last week for not showing remorse after his initial suspension for insubordination, abuse of office and incitements.
Others appointed by the state government along with MC Oluomo as members of the committee include Alhaji Sulyman Ojora; former AIG of Police, Mr Hakeem Odumosu and Taiwo Olufemi Salaam. They are to report to the state ministry of transportation.
Though the groups commended the motive behind the setting up of the committee by the state government “To ensure that activities and events of NURTW do not/are not allowed to threaten the law and order in the state, however, the civil society organisations pointed that the Lagos State Parking Authority Law provides for a Chairman and a six (6) members only, of the Authority; therefore, constituting a 25 – member committee contradicts the State Parking Authority Law”.
It added, “The state Parking Authority Law is clear, Section 2 (a & b) spelt it unambiguously about the composition of the Authority. Mo