No doubt, the newly elected Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Right Honourable Lasbat Meranda is likely to face significant challenges as she assumes her role.

She made mention of many of her challenges in her maiden speech as Speaker of the 10th Assembly taking over from Mudashiru Obasa (Agege Constituency 1) who was recently impeached for gross misconduct and abuse of office after presiding as Speaker over the Lagos State House of Assembly for over a decade.

One of the major hurdles she will need to overcome is managing the Assembly?s relationship with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu?s administration. This will require careful diplomacy and negotiation to ensure smooth collaboration between the two arms of government.

Another challenge Meranda will face is addressing the issue of transparency and public engagement in legislative processes. There have been concerns about the lack of openness in the Assembly?s dealings, and Meranda will need to work to restore public trust.

Additionally, she will have to navigate the complex web of party politics, particularly given the recent impeachment of her predecessor, Mudashiru Obasa. Obasa?s removal was reportedly due to his gross misconduct and financial recklessness, and Meranda will need to distance herself from his legacy while still maintaining party cohesion.

Madam Speaker would have to oversee effective budget implementation and addressing pressing urban development issues.

To succeed, Meranda will need to demonstrate strong leadership skills, including the ability to build consensus and work collaboratively with her colleagues. She will also need to be transparent and accountable in her decision-making, and prioritize the needs of Lagosians above party politics.

Sharing his thoughts on the way forward for Madam Speaker is Hon. Olumuyiwa Jimoh, former deputy majority leader.

He said: ? The new Speaker should concentrate on the reformulation of the business and ethics rules because they have been trampled upon by Obasa. He manipulated some chapters, areas of the law to suit his own political game. The section that gives the speaker to announce the selection committee is mainly for principal officers. The clause that said ordinary members could be co-opted emphasized ranking members not new members. She should look at the house rules that have been manipulated by Obasa. Like the rules for removal of a Speaker in any part of the country even in international climate is just two thirds. Two third of 40 is 27, 28 instead of the clause Obasa put that for removal of the Speaker, you must give him 7 days notice, set up a committee to investigate and all that.

Those ones are for governors not Speaker. Overtime Obasa has manipulated the rules and guidelines of the house. You are not the only one that will be there forever. Others will come to do their own, so, you must give a good law that must exceed your own time.

?Again, she should do more consultations with members, especially with principal officers. Since she is not privileged of working with any other Speaker except Obasa unlike Mojeed who is the deputy that worked with Ikuforiji and myself, we have seen other speakers, how they worked , how there is regard for rules and merit. She should be guided by the rules and ethics of the house so she would not be doing things coming from her own mind. The rules should guide her activities.?

Federal Representative representing Lagos Mainland Hon Olanrewaju Moshood Oshun also made his comment thus: ?I wish her the very best. I wish her a successful tenure. I hope she learns from the past Speaker. More importantly, I wish her the very best.

?I don?t think there is going to be any challenge because she has been in the house. This is her fourth time in the house and the good thing about it is that almost all the members are with her because I learnt that over 32 members signed for the impeachment of the last Speaker. I don?t think there is going to be any challenge. I am going to advise her to see other members as equal even though she is number one. She should sit down with them from time to time and the welfare of the staff is important. She should make sure that the staff are taken care of. She should not forget the party leaders. She should be open. She is from a very good home. I don?t envisage any problem for her honestly.? (The Nation)

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