Lagos deputy speaker warns against abusive legislative oversight

The Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mojisola Meranda, has cautioned councillors against turning legislative oversight into a tool for confrontation, saying effective oversight should improve governance, enhance transparency, and ensure public resources deliver value to the people.

Meranda made the remarks on Tuesday at the opening of the Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area Legislative Week organised by the legislative arm of the council’s sixth assembly.

The first day of the three-day programme, themed “Strengthening Grassroots Governance Through Legislative Partnership,” was designed to equip newly elected councillors with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively discharge their legislative responsibilities.

Speaking at the event, the deputy speaker described local government as the foundation of democracy, noting that citizens experience the impact of governance first at the grassroots through roads, primary healthcare centres, markets and other community services.

She said councillors occupy a strategic position in the democratic system because they serve as the link between government policies and the people, urging them to remain accessible to their constituents and prioritise service delivery.

Meranda also stressed the need for stronger collaboration between the executive and legislative arms of government, saying effective partnerships were critical to improving governance and accelerating development.

She noted that passing laws alone was not enough, adding that lawmakers must ensure that legislation is implemented to achieve meaningful results.

“A legislature that merely passes resolutions without following through on implementation has only completed half of its assignment. The true measure of legislative success is not the number of motions moved; it is the number of lives improved,” she said.

Meranda urged the councillors to enact relevant laws that address the needs of their communities and to conduct oversight professionally rather than treating it as a platform for confrontation.

“Oversight is not confrontation. Oversight is a responsibility. It is ensuring that public resources achieve public purpose and safeguarding the trust reposed in government by the people,” she added.

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Meranda reminded the councillors that their legacy would be defined by their impact on their constituents’ lives, as public office is temporary.

She encouraged them to embrace accountability, continuous learning, collaboration and innovation in strengthening grassroots governance.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Agboyi-Ketu LCDA, Adeola Adunni-Abubakar, said effective governance could only be achieved through a strong partnership between the executive and the legislature.

“The greatest achievements in government are made possible when the executive and the legislature work as partners. United by a common vision and a shared commitment to the welfare of the people, we remain committed to fostering this partnership because, together, we can deliver greater development, strengthen our institutions and improve the quality of life for every resident,” she said.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Finance, Femi Saheed, urged the councillors to invest in continuous education and capacity building, saying effective lawmaking requires knowledge, analytical ability and strong communication skills.

He said lawmakers must understand the legislative process and be equipped to debate bills, sponsor motions, and carry out oversight effectively, warning that inadequate capacity would ultimately affect the quality of representation.

Saheed encouraged the councillors to take advantage of distance learning opportunities to improve their academic qualifications and prepare themselves for higher responsibilities.

“If you are not knowledgeable, your constituency will suffer. But when you debate, you make a difference.”

He added that continuous self-development would enable the councillors to make meaningful contributions to legislation and deliver better outcomes for their constituents.