Ikuforiji Seeks Councillors’ Support For Gov Race

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, western Nigeria, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, has continued with his consultation with his recent meeting with councillors in all the 20 Local Government Areas and the 37 Local Council Development Areas of the state.

We learnt that the meeting, which held on Wednesday at the Lateef Jakande Hall in the Assembly Complex in Alausa, Ikeja, was also an opportunity for the Speaker to make his ambition to succeed Governor Babatunde Fashola in 2015 known.

It was further learnt that Ikuforiji, who was said to have cut short a five-day retreat organised by the House so as to host the councillors, solicited for their support to enable him achieve of his ambition.

Sources at  the meeting said the Speaker promised to look into issues affecting the welfare of the councillors, especially severance package.

The Speaker’s promise to the councillors came after they complained of a running battle they have had with their various council chairmen over welfare and severance packages.

Ikuforiji told them that he would take up the issue and ensure it was addressed.

The House had earlier endorsed a report that instructed the council chairmen to pay all former councillors and other political office holders their benefits.

The instruction was the result of a report by the House Committee on Local Government Administration and Chieftaincy Affairs and another ad-hoc committee set up to further study the complaints of the councillors and proffer a solution.

The councillors pledged their support for the Speaker and his ambition to be the next governor of the state.

The Speaker had weeks ago met with lawmakers at the State House of Assembly and announced his desire to contest for the governorship seat of the state in 2015. He also recently met with members of staff of the Assembly for the same purpose.

June 20, 2014