Lagos HoA advances Market Authority Bill

A majority of lawmakers at the Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday, have expressed their support for the Market Authority Bill.

The bill which aims to reform market operations in the state, successfully passed its second reading and has been referred to the House Committee on Local Government, which is expected to report back within two weeks.

The proposed legislation seeks to establish a framework for the registration, formation, organization, and management of markets in Lagos.

In his opinion, Hon. Sanni Okanlawon, chairman of the Local Government Committee, the bill addresses deficiencies in existing laws and mandates that all markets be officially registered.

Also speaking, Hon. Rauf Age-Suleiman commended the bill for its comprehensive approach, particularly the inclusive composition of its board.

Contributing to the discourse, Deputy Majority Leader Adedamola Richard Kasunmu highlighted that the bill correctly positions the Iyaloja-General within the Market Advisory Council, noting that including her on the Market Board would create conflicting roles.

Another lawmaker, Hon. Sa’ad Olumoh emphasized that the bill stipulates that board member appointments must be ratified by the House, a measure intended to prevent traders from self-appointing titles. He also praised the inclusion of an advisory board led by the Iyaloja-General, asserting that this would ensure valuable guidance.

In his part, Hon. Stephen Ogundipe expressed confidence that the proposed law would be well-received by Lagosians, while Hon. Nureni Akinsanya stressed the need for the bill to ensure that only trustworthy individuals are appointed to positions.

Hon. Aro Moshood contributed by highlighting that the bill aims to improve market cleanliness, management, and address traffic congestion caused by market activities.

The Market Authority Bill is poised to bring significant changes to market regulation and operations in Lagos, pending further review and approval.