The Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday confirmed Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode’s nominees for membership of the state’s Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and the Audit Service Commission.
The Speaker, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, said the confirmation was in line with Sections 198 and Two (2) of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended) and the Lagos State Audit Service Law.
Obasa, after voice votes of lawmakers confirmed the nominees, directed the Clerk of the Assembly to convey the decision of the House to the governor.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Abdulfatai Oluwole, Mrs Mojisola Sodipo, Mr Adedayo Adekunle and Mr Rotimi Seriki were confirmed as members of JSC.
Besides, Alhaji Waliu Onibon, Mr Moses Dosu, Mrs Folake Onabolu, Mr Adekunle Otushemade and Mr Abiodun Aigbe were confirmed as membership of Audit Service Commission.
Earlier, the lawmakers took turns to interrogate nominees on their plans to take the commissions to greater heights.
Responding to question on the implication of the Treasury Single Account, Onibon said that it would checkmate manipulation and ease tax payment.
“Multiple accounts are not in conformity with the constitutional rules which state that all government funds must go into a single account, legislated upon before it is spent. Multiple accounts give room for manipulation, even by the MDAs.
“Single account makes it easy for tax payers; no bank official will be asking which account you are paying into.
“What the government needs is a robust type of account that will take care of the various sources of funds coming into government coffers,” he said.
In her view, Onabolu, who claimed to be the first female Forensic Auditor in Nigeria, assured the lawmakers that government accounts were in best shape.
“I assure this House that necessary machinery will be put in motion to make sure that state resources are judiciously used,” she said.
Onabolu said that the commission’s core mandate of producing professionally qualified auditors as well as offering technical advice on audit service to the government with core values of integrity, honesty, accountability would be pursued.
Many of the lawmakers lauded the governor for selecting the professionals to head the two crucial commissions.
The Assembly adjourned its plenary session to Nov. 2.