Market Authority Bill To Strengthen Lagos Business Activities Scales Second Reading At Assembly

Majority of the lawmakers at the Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday supported the Market Authority Bill currently being considered by the legislators.

The bill scaled second reading on the floor of the House with the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, committing it to the House Committee on Local Government.

The committee is expected to report back to the House in two weeks.

The bill, if passed, aims to provide for the registration, formation, organisation and operation of market operations in the State.

Hon. Sanni Okanlawon, chairman of the local government committee, said the bill tries to address some anomalies in the extant law and would make it mandatory for all markets to be duly registered.

His colleague, Rauf Age-Suleiman, noted that the composition of the board of the bill is all-encompassing.

The Deputy Majority Leader, Adedamola Richard Kasunmu, noted that the Iyaloja-General belongs in the Market Advisory Council as captured in the bill. As such, it would amount to dual roles if she is added to the Market Board.

On his part, Hon. Sa’ad Olumoh said the bill makes it mandatory for the appointment of the board members to be ratified by the House. He also noted that the bill would help to scrap situations where traders arbitrarily apportion titles to themselves.

“Clause 18 talks about an advisory board which the Iyaloja-General is going to be heading. That tells us that our Iyaloja is in a better position to give the necessary advice,” he said.

While Hon. Stephen Ogundipe said the proposed law would be appreciated by Lagosians, his colleague, Hon. Nureni Akinsanya, urged that the bill should make it necessary for only honest people to gain positions.

Contributing to the debate, Hon. Aro Moshood emphasised that the bill ensures the cleanliness of markets, their effective management and takes care of gridlocks caused by the activities of traders and buyers.