A legal luminary, Barrister Femi Falana (SAN) has tasked the state and federal government, on the need to speedily assent laws that emboldens human rights protection, and to deliberately clean up the social security records to get funds across to the vulnerable in the society rather than the easily diverted palliative schemes.
The human rights lawyer (Falana) made the assertion on Friday, during a monthly stakeholders interactive roundtable on public policy making and execution tagged – Citizens Accountability And Rights Forum (CARF), organized by the Committee For the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) in partnership with Centre for Anti Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL).
Falana who Chaired the parley themed: “Lawmaking in Lagos State: Implication effects on human and socio-economic impact on the people”, lauded the Lagos State House of Assembly for churning out laws that are well thought out and in tandem with current realities.
He however, cited some grey areas where the whole gamut of governance needs to do more especially in Lagos state, which he claims had always set the pace for good things.
“I commend Lagos for being the first to pass into law the human rights agency bill which emanated from the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, following the EndSars protest,it also passed a bill on anti corruption agency which has been assented two years ago, but the agency is yet to be set up.
“The House should call on the state government to set up the agency, for submission of complaints on corruption to be entertained.
“People are going through horrendous human rights violations daily.
“The we are hungry (Ebi npa wa) outburst by Lagos resident, a reaction to the harsh economic reality is a pointer for us, I think Lagos can reduce it by direct cash transfers not distribution of food,as the majority will not get the palliatives, those that really needs it.
“The stampede in Lagos over custom rice, seven died,in Nasarawa two died in the rush for 7kg bag of rice for University students, due to the fact that the rice was being thrown at them. Stop gathering our people for food palliatives you are dehumanizing them.”
He urged State and Federal government to tidy up the social register for direct cash transfer instead of the palliative.
“The Custom played the victim in Lagos case, while Nasarawa government claimed students were not patient, in all adequate compensation should be paid to the families of the bereaved, those who died at the LGA and state level as government are vicariously liable.
He also commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the maximal honour and compensation accorded the soldiers that were killed in Delta, while on the line of duty.
Hon. Stephen Ogundipe (Oshodi Isolo constituency 1), who represented the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly Rt. Hon Mudashiru Obasa at the forum in his keynote speech harped on the need for the people to open up about their concerns, so as to make it accessible for them to fight their cause on the floor of the house.
The grassroot politician (Ogundipe) emphasized the impact of updates the people availed their lawmakers, stressing that matter of urgent public importance is an avenue crafted in the legislature to address such public concerns and should be explored maximally.
“The Lagos State House of Assembly is for the people, issues that concerns them should be brought forward, don’t feel that it won’t be treated, it would be treated because like we said the house is for them and when you see any abnormalities and infringements within your localities it is your right to bring it up.
“It is when you bring it up that the Speaker will now give it to the committee involved in such matters to go and handle it after which they will still bring it back before members of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
“So at no point in time will any issue be raised that concerns the people which should not be brought before the house.
“Any matter that affects any constituency, you see Honourable members coming to raise such on the floor of the house as a matter of urgent public importance and it will be treated there.
“Don’t even wait until a paper is written on it. The house will investigate the matter and come up with conclusion so that everybody is happy, because if such matters come to the floor and it is not treated why are we there?
“So we are encouraging them that citizens should also play their roles, look at the case of MOHBAD and the boy whose intestines went missing, the house handled it conclusively, so know that matters that affects you, your neighbours, your communities when brought forward will be treated.
Ogundipe commended the CSO’s for the fruitful collaboration they spearheaded with the members of the public.
“We want to assure the citizens that the laws that will make things more conducive for them, are the ones we are also trying to churn out.
“We all know the current situation of things now in the country and we are all working together to make sure we lower biting effect of the situation, so that everybody will be happy.”
Comrade Debo Adeniran President CDHR and Chairman CACOL , who coordinated the forum hinted that the initiative was geared towards avoiding needless confrontation between the people and government.
“Most of the time both the executives and the legislators don’t meet people in their various constituencies and a lot of these complaints have been coming to the Civil society organization but we don’t have information to respond to most of these concerns raised.
“That is why we invite those responsible for such concerns to come and explain directly to the people, we don’t want to lose our people to things that we can control, that is why we are doing our best to ensure that there is peaceful coexistence between the government and the people of the state.
“Honourable Stephen Ogundipe who was here to represent the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, was able to prove that he is in that house and quite aware of everything that had been going on there.
“Lagos State government is a listening government especially at the level of the legislature, that every complains and concerns expressed by Lagosians, has been taken up by the relevant committees in the Lagos State house of assembly.
Public concerns related to Land grabbing, demolition of shanties, the way traffic regulators have been behaving even education and other social aspect have been raised and addressed.
“We only hope that they will follow up some of the areas of deficiency to the level of fruition, to the extent that Lagosians will be rest assured that their voices are being heard, and that they are parts and parcel of governance in Lagos state.”
Barrister Wale Ogunade, Mr. Kunle Awobodu and the Vice President CDHR Comrade Yinka Kola and Pastor Keulere who were parts of the discussants at the forum, cited issues which bothers on indiscriminate fines on alleged one-way defaulters,road worthiness,land grabbing,tenancy and need to revamp the customary courts for maximum discharge of its constitutional roles.
