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

Foremost Anti-Corruption and accountability Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), 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) have condemned the recent appointment of Mr. Musiliu Akinsanya, also known as MC Oluomo, as the chairman of the newly constituted Parks and Garages Management Committee of Lagos State by the 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 issued by the State’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso.

The groups in a statement on Monday signed by their Directors said the appointment was illegal on the ground that there is currently no known law in Lagos State backing the 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 said.

They referred to Section 1(e) of the fourth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) which provides thus: “The main functions of the local government council are as follows: (e)Establish maintenance and Regulation of slaughter houses, slaughter slabs, Markets, “Motor Parks” and Public conveniences (emphasizes ours).”

MC Oluomo, who was the Chairman of NURTW (Lagos Chapter), was last week sacked by the national body of NURTW for not showing remorse after his initial suspension for insubordination, abuse of office and incitement.

The appointment of MC Olomo 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 since taken effect. They report to the State Ministry of Transportation.

The CSOs 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.” They, however, pointed out that the Lagos State Parking Authority Law provides for a Chairman and six 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.

“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,” the CSOs noted.

HEDA had recently written to Lagos State lawmakers through the Speaker, asking them to repeal the Parking Authority 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).

According to the CSOs, “It’s on these grounds that our groups calling on the Lagos State government to rethink its decision and follow the rule of law as its 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 State Governor to expedite actions in this matter, without any delay.”