Press Releases

Fashola To Public Officers: Share Your Experience For Public Good
• As Deputy Speaker Hon. Ihedioha commends Governor's good works in Lagos

Jun 25, 2012 - Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Monday received the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Emeka Ihedioha in audience, urging public officers to always give back to the society by sharing their experiences.

The Governor who spoke at the Lagos House, Alausa when he received Hon Ihedioha who was in Lagos to deliver a lecture at his alma mater- the University of Lagos added that such public officers have seen the theory, the practice and can go back and tell the students the way it is.

He said it is quite commendable that the Deputy Speaker is returning to his Alma Mater to give a lecture unlike many who only go to such institutions to bag honourary degrees.

"By going back there to share some details about what you are doing with public time and purse, you will touch and inspire some boys and girls with your lecture into a quest for life of service in the public sphere.

"I hope many more of us will find time to do similar things our service tenure and also write books about our experiences. In those democracies elsewhere once a public officer finishes his tenure he goes back to school to lecture", the Governor added.

The Governor who also lent his support to the present leadership in the House of Representatives said in spite of the imperfections in the system, it is a beginning which will get better with time.

The Governor said the more the people understand that the country has proceeded for several years without recognizing the critical role of the legislature and that the legislature is a part of the government that makes things happen the better for everyone

"The more we understand that the legislature is a part of government that enables things to happen, that engages with the people, that shares information about development, that queries progress with a view to inspiring better service delivery, the better we would all be".

He said each time members of the legislature ask questions from the executive, it should be viewed from the perspective that they have a right to ask the questions because it is to them that we always take annual budgets to and t5hat the more the members of the Executive get used to this the better everyone would be.

"13 years is not enough time to run as fast as democracies that are between 600 and 800 years old. What should be uppermost is that we must avoid making mistakes or repeating some of the past mistakes. There are benefits to gain from there", the Governor stated.

Speaking earlier, the Deputy Speaker, Hon Emeka Ihedioha had appreciated the good works of the Governor in Lagos State as attested to by many people and wished him well in the quest.

He also thanked him and the administration for giving the State Legislature a befitting place to operate from, stressing that he hopes the Governor will also collaborate with the National Assembly whenever it decides to give full autonomy to the legislature.

He explained that he is in Lagos to deliver a lecture at the University of Lagos and also have time to share ideas and enrich the students while also using the opportunity to market the legislature knowing full well that it is one institution that has suffered a lot of pitfalls because of military interventions.

Prominent among those who joined the Governor in receiving the Deputy Speaker were members of the State Executive Council including the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Lateef Ibirogba, Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr Ademorin Kuye, Rural Development, Mr Cornelius Ojelabi and the Special Adviser on Political and Legislative Powers, Mr Oloruntele Folami while Hon Abike Dabiri- Erewa from Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Hon Jumoke Okoya-Thomas from Lagos Island Federal Constituency , Hon Dr Samuel Adejare from Agege Federal Constituency, Hon Rose Okoh and Hon Jerry Alagbozoh were on the entourage of the Deputy Speaker.