Lagos Assembly sets up committee to recover govt assets

The Lagos State House of Assembly has established an eight-member ad hoc committee with the mission to locate, document, and assist in recovering government-owned assets throughout the state. The committee's mandate also includes assessing the status of documented and undocumented properties and other state-owned assets. Speaking about the committee, chairman Obafemi Saheed emphasized that the task falls within the Assembly's oversight role, aimed at enhancing accountability and ensuring proper management of public resources.

Saheed stated that the committee will scrutinize government spending, monitor the utilization of public funds, and verify that taxpayers' money is being spent in accordance with its intended purposes. He further urged Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) that have yet to submit the necessary documents to do so expeditiously and attend their scheduled appearances before the committee.

Saheed warned that failure to comply or disregard the committee's proceedings could result in appropriate legislative penalties. The committee may even issue subpoenas and seek the Assembly's permission to issue arrest warrants against individuals who refuse to cooperate with its directives. Agencies that have already appeared before the committee include the Lagos State New Town Development Authority, Lagos State Waterways Authority, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, and several other ministries and agencies.

The committee's sessions have involved questioning the agencies and requiring them to provide comprehensive records of all assets under their control, including documented and undocumented properties. The committee's goal is to establish the ownership and condition of government assets, verify their usage, and facilitate the recovery of these properties for the benefit of residents in Lagos.

The committee is expected to continue its work, with additional MDAs scheduled to appear before it. The lawmakers present during the meeting included Jubreel Abdulkareem, Olayinka Kazeem, Samuel Apata, Sobur Oluwa, and Bonu Solomon.