By Sunday Ani
Former chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Service Commission (LAHASCOM), Chief Olawale Mogaji, who was sacked yesterday, has vowed to seek redress, insisting that the Speaker did not follow the due process of law before the sack.
He accused the Speaker of always taking unilateral decisions and running the Commission as a unit of the Assembly, without recourse to the established service rules.
The state Assembly, during its plenary on Thursday, July 14, had sacked Chief Mogaji as LAHASCOM’s chairman in a unanimous voice vote.
A statement on Thursday, July 14, by Mogaji, which was made available to the Daily Sun, described the Speaker’s action as sad and a bastardisation of democracy.
Part of the statement read: “I heard through the news that the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly terminated my appointment as Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Service Commission (LAHASCOM) at the plenary today, July 14, 2022. It is very sad that our democracy has been bastardised with the conduct of those who are supposed to protect the rule of law and ensure the sanctity of justice.
“The Speaker, without recourse to the Service rules, has been operating the Commission like a Unit of the Assembly. Recently, he appointed Mr. Onafeko on GL-15 as Clerk of the House whereas, to be appointed as a Clerk of the House, one must be a full director on GL-17.
“Also, today, he appointed another woman, Mrs. Latona, who is on GL-15 to be the Secretary of the Commission. To be appointed a secretary of the commission, one must also be a full director on GL-17. These are just a few of the unilateral actions taken by the Speaker.”
He accused the Speaker of obstructing the activities of the Commission, saying, “And any attempt to advise him on the need for due process is seen as an affront on him.”
He, however, noted that he would remain steadfast and allow the law to take its course by going to court to seek redress and protect his integrity.