CSOs frown on illegality of M.C Oluomo’s appointment, call Lagos govt to account for huge revenue generated

Technocrat Media, Lagos

Foremost Anti-corruption and accountability Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have condemned the recent appointment of Mr. Musiliu Akinsanya, also known as M.C Oluomo, as the chairman of the newly constituted Parks and garages Management Committee in Lagos State.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had appointed Mr Akinsanya to manage and oversee the commercial motor parks and garages in the state.

The CSOs include the Human & Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre), Enough is Enough (EIE), PLAYYA, Centre for Accountability and Open Leadership (CACOL) and Campaign Coalition against Bad Governance (CACOBAG) said the appointment was illegal.

The groups in a statement signed by their Directors said the appointment was illegal on the ground that there is currently no known law in Lagos State backing this appointment. Moreso, according to 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).

“Recall that Oluomo who was the Chairman of NURTW (Lagos Chapter) was sacked by the national body of the union, earlier in the week, for not showing remorse after his initial suspension for insubordination, abuse of office and incitement.”

“The appointment of MC Oluomo as the Chairman; Alh. Sulyman Ojora, as Deputy Chairman; erstwhile AIG of Police, Mr Hakeem Odumosu, as the government liaison officer in the committee; Taiwo Olufemi salaam, as secretary and 21 other members has taken effect. They are to report to the State Ministry of transportation.”

Though the groups commended the motive behind the committee of the state government “To ensure that activities and events of NURTW  are not allowed to threaten the law and order in the state, however, the civil society organizations pointed out 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.

“The state Parking Authority Law is clear, Section 2 (a & b) has spelt out unambiguously the composition of the Authority. More so, the position of liaison officer is unknown to the law,” the CSOs stated.

“However, section 12 (1&2) of the Parking Authority law provides for a general manager who shall be the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and who shall be in charge of the general administration of the Authority and transaction of its day-to-day business.”

Recall that HEDA wrote to the Lagos State lawmakers through the Speaker,  just recently asking them to repeal this same law on the ground that the role of managing parks, garages and bus stops falls exclusively on the shoulders of local government councils as enshrined in Section 1 (e) of the Fourth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as altered).

It’s on these grounds that our groups call on the Lagos State government to rethink its decision and follow the rule of law as it’s appropriate in the interest of Peace and Order that the Governor has promised the people.

We also demand a probe into the collection of multiple taxes and levies imposed on buses, tricycles and motorcycles in Lagos State. It has been investigated and confirmed that N123 billion is being collected per annum. The amount is likely to have increased as the levies collected daily are as follows:

Big Bus – named “LT” b/w N14,000 & N15,000;  Small Bus – named “Danfo” b/w  N8,500 & N9,000; Tricycle named “Keke” b/w N1,400 & N1700; Motorcycle named “Okada” b/w N800 & N1,200.

“We expect the governor to expedite actions in this matter, without any delay,” the group said.