The amendment involved the addition of a new subsection to Section 2 of the LASIEC law to enable the governor to have power to extend the tenure of the commission based on exigencies.
The Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday reviewed and amended the law creating the state’s Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), giving the governor more powers.
The amendment involved the addition of a new subsection to Section 2 of the LASIEC law to enable the governor to have power to extend the tenure of the commission based on exigencies.
The law establishing LASIEC provides for the Chairman and six Commissioners appointed for a five-year tenure.
The tenure of the current LASIEC chairman, Ayotunde Philip, who was nominated by former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in May 2016, and confirmed by the House one month later, elapses this year.
Sanai Agunbiade (Ikorodu 2), the Leader of the House, said the amendment was permitted by existing law.
Another lawmaker, Victor Akande (Ojo 1), the Chairman of the Committee on Judiciary, Public Petitions and LASIEC, said the amendment was to resolve the lacuna that could occur between the period the tenure of the commission elapses and when new members are appointed by the Governor.
“The bill is just for a singular amendment or a fraction of the law and the major issue is that it is seeking for us to give the Governor a leverage in case of scarcity of time,” he said while urging his colleagues to support its passage.
Contributing, Gbolahan Yishawu (Eti-Osa 2), said the amendment was in good faith for the progress of the state and effective running of the government.
He, however, suggested that the amendment should be in such a way that there would be recourse to the House should there be any reason to extend the tenure of the commission.
