The Lagos State House of Assembly has summoned the State’s Attorney General, Mr Lawal Pedro, and Solicitor General, Oyenuga Hameed Olanrewaju, to appear before a joint committee, following a contentious letter from the Ministry of Justice regarding the commencement date of the Local Government Administration Law 2025. Speaker of the House, Dr. Mudashiru Obasa, announced the summons, emphasising the need to clarify the executive’s position on a law that has already been assented to.
The controversy stems from a letter dated June 24, 2025, from the Solicitor General’s office, which stated that the Local Government Administration Law 2015, despite being assented to by the governor on May 7, 2025, would only come into operation on August 4, 2025, by virtue of a ‘Commencement Order 2025’.This assertion has drawn sharp criticism from members of the House, who argue that an executive order cannot override an existing law.
During the plenary session, lawmakers expressed their dismay, reiterating that once a bill is assented to by the Governor, it immediately becomes law, unless a specific commencement date is stipulated within the law itself. They highlighted that the legislative process concludes with the Governor’s assent, or a successful override of a gubernatorial veto, at which point the law takes effect.
Member representing Kosofe Constituency 01, Sanni Okanlawon, said such actions undermine the dignity and legislative authority of the House “This appears to me like a joke. This matter is very strange, delicate, and sensitive.
Delicate and sensitive in the sense that we made a law, we fought in putting the law together, and it was assented to by Mr. Governor. Now to turn around and say that the commencement of the law will be of no use, this appears to me like a joke,” he said.
Member representing Oshodi Isolo 2 Constituency, Oladipo Ajomale, questioned the rationale behind changing the commencement date after the law had already been made public and commended by various stakeholders. “An executive order cannot overrule a law. I think that is factual,” he asserted, calling for the Attorney General to provide clarity on the legal basis for such an executive order.
Obasa acknowledged the concerns raised by his colleagues, noting that the situation presents an opportunity to “test the spirit of law, particularly in this very room, and test how strong and viable it is.”
He affirmed the House’s position that the law’s commencement date should be immediate upon assent.
In addition to the dispute over the Local Government Administration Law, the Assembly also acknowledged a petition from the citizens of Oto Awori Local Council Development Area. The petition, dated June 21, 2025, addresses the breach of constitutional provisions regarding the swearing-in of Vice Chairman Kareem Azeez Abiodun as the substantive Executive Chairman of Oto Awori LCDA. This follows the unfortunate demise of the Executive Chairman, Musibau Asafa, on June 13, 2025.
The petitioners cite Section 31 of the relevant law, which mandates that the Vice Chairman assumes the office of Chairman upon the Chairman’s death, resignation, or removal. They expressed concern that the Vice Chairman has been referred to as “Acting Chairman,” questioning the adherence to the rule of law at the local government level and urging the House to intervene to ensure the proper swearing-in of Abdulkareem Abiodun.
Dr. Obasa concluded the session by directing the joint committee of Judiciary and Local Government to invite the Attorney General, the Solicitor General, the Permanent Secretary (PS), and the Director of Litigation within the Ministry of Justice. “They can confuse us enough so we will align with their position,” the Speaker quipped, signalling the House’s firm resolve to uphold the legislative integrity and the rule of law in Lagos State.
