Lagos State cabinet nominees to present DSS, party clearances, others at screening

LAGOS State House of Assembly yesterday said all prospective commissioners and special advisers in the state must present a clearance from the Directorate of State Security (DSS) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) during screening exercise scheduled to begin on Monday.

The House, in a list of screening criteria released on Thursday, also requested health clearance from a state-owned general hospital, original copy of certificates and proof of residency in Lagos State among others.

It would be recalled that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode last week sent a 37-man cabinet nominees’ list to the House for screening and approval. The House, however, appointed a 15-man committee to screen the nominees behind closed doors.

Chairman of the screening committee, Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni, said the House in setting up the committee, was exercising its constitutional power as provided for in Section 103 (1) of the constitution, which stated that, “a House of Assembly may appoint a committee of its members for any special or general purpose as in its opinions will be better regulated and managed by means of such a committee, and may by resolution, regulation or otherwise as it thinks fit delegates any functions exercisable by it to any such committee.”

Speaking on the screening criteria, Eshinlokun-Sanni, who is also the Deputy Speaker of the House, said that Section 192(4) prescribes that, “No person shall be appointed as a Commissioner of the Government of a State unless he is qualified for election as a member of the House of Assembly of a state.”

According to him, each nominee is expected to present his or her original academic certificates, “which will not only be sighted by members of the committee but also verified by the Directorate of State Security (DSS).”
“Fake result or certificate leads to automatic disqualification or withdrawal of confirmation if already given,” he said.

Eshinlokun-Sanni added that each nominee is also expected to present proof of party membership through letters from the state chairman and his or her local council chairman of the party; should have the concurrence of the members representing his or her local council; should have clearance from the DSS; must be certified physically fit by any government general hospital; must provide vision for the development of the state in his or her area of competence; must provide evidence of his residency in the state through the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA).