By Fatimah Idera
The Lagos State House of Assembly has given an indefinite suspension to the chairman of Alimosho Local Government Area, Jelili Sulaimon for his “non-compliance, defiance and unyielding attitude,” leading to the question and reactions as to if a state assembly has the constitutional right to do so.
The state assembly announced the suspension during a plenary on Monday that the move is indefinite and takes immediate effect.
Sanni Okanlawon, chairman of the House Committee on Local Government Administration and Chieftaincy Affairs, moved the motion for Sulaimon’s suspension.
He said investigation revealed that the chairman was allegedly involved in the chaos that led to the death of Michael Ajayi in the Iyana-Ipaja area of Alimosho LGA in April.
“He should be suspended immediately while the vice chairman, Akin Johnson, takes over with immediate effect,” he said.
Okanlawon added that Sulaimon failed to follow the assembly’s directives and had allegedly mismanaged public funds, not disclosing the actual amount involved.
Also, Noheem Adams, the majority leader, supported the suspension, stating that the chairman had disregarded procurement procedures and the council’s budget.
“There has been a lot of misconduct from him and I support that the chairman be suspended indefinitely,” Adams said.
Meanwhile, the development has generated reactions from some esidents of the Alimosho local government who told The Pinnacle Times about several atrocities being committed in the area, even as others expressed doubts if the house of assembly can actually impeach a Local government chairman as a matter of constitutional provisions.
In his own reaction, Gbolahan Oyenuga, a resident of the area said: “Is this constitutional? Legislature suspending the executive, and both are duly elected. Wonders shall never end, it’s like NASS suspending a governor, or is there something am missing?”
Another reaction from a resident who simply identified himself as EzeMbedo observed that, “From which part of the constitution does the Lagos state house of assembly derive the power to discipline an elected LG chairman”
Also, Love, a long time resident explained that the “Alimosho road is the worst , especially the Ikotun and Ikotun Egbe axis. Terrible roads with flood”
“Does the house of assembly still have such powers in the new local government amended law?,” Zubbydee, another resident simply asked.
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