The Lagos State House of Assembly on Wednesday confirmed 22 out of the 39 commissioner-nominees sent by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for screening.
The Assembly, however, rejected 17 commissioner-nominees, largely made up of returning commissioners.
Among those not cleared were the Commissioner for Heath, Prof. Akin Abayomi, who led the dogged fight against Covid-19; his counterpart in Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso; Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo (Education); and Mr. Sam Egube (Economic Planning and Budget).
Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, who presided over the day’s sitting, said the confirmation followed rigorous and detailed screening of the nominees by an ad-hoc committee led by the Chief Whip, Hon. Fatai Mojeed.
He commended the committee for its effectiveness and urged the confirmed nominees to always remember that they are in office to serve the people of the state and not individuals.
He also promised that the House would continue to do its best in the interest of the state.
The confirmation was done through a voice vote as the Speaker mentioned the name of each of the nominees.
Those confirmed included: Hon. Layode Ibrahim, Mr. Mobolaji Ogunlende, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe, Hon. Bola Olumegbon, Mr. Idris Aregbe, Ms. Abisola Ruth Olusanya, Mr. Moruf Fatai Akinderu, Mr. Kayode Bolaji-Roberts, Engr. Abiola Olowu and Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka.
Others are: Dr. Oreoluwa Finnih- Awokoya, Mr. Yakub Adedayo Alebiosu, Mr. Lawal Pedro SAN, Mr. Tunbosun Alake, Mr. Gbenga Oyerinde, Dr. Adekunle Olayinka, Dr. Jide Babatunde, Mr. Afolabi Ayantayo, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, Mr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, Mr. Jamiu Alli-Balogun and Mr. Abdulkabir Ogungbo.
Those not confirmed were: Adefisayo, Abayomi, Mr. Yomi Oluyomi, Mrs. Folashade Ambrose, Ms. Barakat Bakare, Omotoso, Engr. Olalere Odusote, Dr. Rotimi Fashola, Mrs. Bolaji Cecilia Dada, Egube, Mr. Olalekan Fatodu, Mrs. Solape Hammond, Mr. Mosopefolu George, Engr. Aramide Adeyoye, Mr. Seun Osiyemi, Mr. Rotimi Ogunwuyi and Dr. Olumide Oluyinka.
Last week, some Islamic clerics protested alleged lopsidedness in the list of commissioner-nominees. They claimed that only eight Muslims made the governor’s 39-man list.
