The representative for Ifako-Ijaiye Constituency 01 at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adewale Adedeji, mentioned that teamwork between the legislative and executive parts of government can rapidly push the growth of any state.
He also advised state assemblies to copy the cooperation between the Lagos Assembly and the executive part of government to achieve development.
While participating as a panelist on the topic “roles and impact of lawmakers in society” at the first edition of the Adebo Ogundoyin Students Legislative Summit held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, in Oyo State on Wednesday, he made the statement.
The event hosted Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, represented by former Reps member Hon Golu Timothy, Speakers of the Osun and Ekiti House of Assemblies, Rt. Hon Adewale Egbedun and Rt. Hon Adeoye Aribasoye, Minister of State for Youth Ayodele Olawande, Soun of Ogbomoso land Oba Afolabi Ghandi Olaoye, All Progressives Congress National Youth Leader Dayo Israel, and Oyo State House of Assembly members, among others.
Discussing the topic, he mentioned that the friendly relationship between the legislative and executive parts had led to significant infrastructural development in Lagos.
He said, “For a state to experience extensive infrastructural development and progress, there is a necessity for the Legislative and Executive arms to be in agreement. In Lagos State, we have an independent House. A House that has its autonomy.
“Before we pass any law, it goes through the first and second reading to the public hearing. Before it is signed into law, it is always sent to the executive arm of government to see if they are comfortable with what we have given and what we have proposed to them. So, we tend to meet halfway, and then they decide. Once that is done, it is then passed into law. So, we have a relationship whereby everyone is playing their part in terms of the separation of powers as laid down by the Constitution.
“So, it is possible for an executive arm to have a close relationship with the legislative arm because the executive arm believes the legislature is a watchdog for their decisions and activities. But they (Lagos State) have a cordial relationship between both arms, and that has made Lagos develop very fast in terms of budget appropriations, which is crucial to the activities of the executive arm, and that is why you see infrastructure developments springing up across the state.
According to him, if the executive does not support a bill, it is not passed. There must have been an agreement between the executive and legislative arms before bills can be passed into law.
On the need for public engagement, he said, “After the second reading of bills, the entire public is invited to the House, and a communique is given back to the people and receives their communique, taking the necessary input into consideration, and then it is passed into law.
“Lawmakers also do stakeholder engagement where everyone goes home and holds a meeting with his constituents to inform them of what has been done while taking back their requests to the House, which is sent to the Governor and forms part of our budget for the following year.”
