The Lagos State House of Assembly has constituted an eight-member ad hoc committee to identify, document and facilitate the recovery of government-owned assets, including properties whose ownership or status may not have been properly recorded.
The committee is mandated to establish the status of all documented and undocumented properties and other assets belonging to the state.
Speaking during the exercise, the committee’s chairman, Obafemi Saheed, said effective oversight and accountability remained key responsibilities of the legislature.
He said these responsibilities included scrutinising government expenditure, monitoring the utilisation of public funds and ensuring that taxpayers’ money was judiciously applied in line with approved objectives.
According to Saheed, the exercise would enable the committee to establish the assets owned by the state, assess their current status and determine whether they were being effectively utilised for the benefit of Lagos residents.
He urged ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) that had yet to submit the requested documents to do so without further delay and appear before the committee as scheduled.
The chairman warned that heads of ministries, agencies and institutions who failed to honour the committee’s invitations or disregarded its proceedings would face appropriate consequences.
He said the committee had the power to subpoena individuals and could seek the approval of the House to issue warrants of arrest against those who refused to comply with its directives.
Among the MDAs that have appeared before the committee are the Lagos State New Town Development Authority, Lagos State Waterways Authority, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Ministry of Tertiary Education and Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment.
Others include the Lagos State Ferry Services, Lagos State Printing Corporation, Lagos State Agriculture Input Supply Authority and Lagos State Agriculture Development Authority.
During the engagements, the committee made inquiries and directed the MDAs to provide comprehensive records of all assets under their custody, including documented and undocumented properties.
The exercise is aimed at identifying and verifying government assets and facilitating their recovery where necessary for the benefit of the state.
The committee is expected to continue its engagements, with other MDAs scheduled to appear before it.
Other lawmakers present at the meeting were Jubreel Abdulkareem, Olayinka Kazeem, Samuel Apata, Sobur Oluwa and Bonu Solomon.
