By Olanrewaju Adesanya
LAGOS lawmakers at plenary on Monday, after the third reading passed into law, “A bill for a law to amend Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency Law, 2019” .
The bill which was passed earlier this year was amended after some observations were raised by the Executive through the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of the state, Mr. Moyo Onigbanjo.
The House retains its position on the provision of section 20(1) which says that the appointment of the Lagos Amotekun Corps Commander should be confirmed by the House, as it is in the practice and procedures of the Houseand because of the sensitivity of the position.
Also, the House in it’s wisdom believe that given the fact that the Lagos Amotekun corps members will carry arms, it is necessary that the appointment of Amotekun Corps Commander be properly scrutinized.
However, the House agreed to uphold the observation of the executive in the provisions of Section 20(3) of the bill, to the effect that the removal of the Lagos Amotekun Corps Commander does not necessarily require the concurrence of the House. Thus giving the Governor the sole rights to determine the removal of the Corps Commander.
This according to the House was borne out of the fact that, there should be a single line of discipline in accordance with Public Service establishment and engagement.
After the unanimous concurrence of all the members present at sitting, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Mudashiru Obasa directed Mr. Azeez Sanni, the Clerk of the House to forward a clean copy of the Bill to Mr. Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his assent.
The Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Corps Agency law was initiated by Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa in 2016 when it was first passed into law.
The law became a veritable tool to accommodate the inclusion of the establishment of Amotekun Corps in the state when the six South West states decided to adopt Amotekun Corps to address the daunting security challenges in the region.
