Former—After months of face-off with the executive arm, Lagos State House of Assemby, yesterday, passed a Supplemetary Budget of N36 billion instead of the N46 reque-sted by Governor Babatunde Fashola. The bill sailed through following the intervention of immediate past Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

During a visit to the House, yesterday, Tinubu said the House should not be prevented from doing its constitutional and legislative oversight duties on the executive arm of government.

He stressed the need to kick against some negative comments and underground campaigns which according to him were made by ‘some agents of destruction’.

Tinubu said: “This is an emergency visit to the House to look at the situation to ameliorate what we believe would help the state and I want to thank the House for the reception given during this emergency visit.

“We have been hearing some negative comments and underground cam-paigns about some people by agents of destruction; that is what we want to remove.

“But there is no way we can prevent the House of Assembly from performing its constitutional legisla-tive oversight function. To go about campaigning or intimidating the House is not a right way to go.”

Advocates checks and balances

He, therefore, advised the House to maintain the harmonious relationship that has been existing between it and the government, adding that the principle of checks and balances must not be jeopardised.

He said: “We want to look at the health of the state, put the state in the right direction and keep the harmonious relation-ship that has been existing between the House and the government.

“Checks and balances must not be overlooked no matter how united we feel and the responsibility of individual and institution must not be abused in anyway.”

On N46bn supplementary budget

He held a closed-door meeting with all the lawmakers and before long the fog over the supplementary budget, which the House had sent back to the Executive twice, cleared.

Speaking with journalists after the meeting with the lawmakers, Tinubu said his visit was to look at ways to help the state move forward.

While commending Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji for standing firm and holding the House together, Tinubu warned those whom he described as agents of destruction who had been making negative comments and underground campaigns against the House for doing its job, to desist.
By Olasunkomi Akoni & Gbenga Akanmu
,Vanguard News 15/10/10.