The Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Pharm (Mrs) Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, on Tuesday, August 16th, 2016, inaugurated the third session of the State Youth Parliament at the Chamber of Old Lagos State House Assembly, Alausa in Ikeja.
The Youth Parliament which is made up of forty (40) Junior Legislators elected to represent their constituencies for a period of two (2) years, were drawn from the twenty (20) Local Governments and thirty-seven (37) Local Council Development Areas of the State.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner urged the parliamentarians to remain focus and dedicated to their constituencies who elected them into the positions.
In her words, “After the inauguration today, you all must prove your mettle why you deserved this seat. I want you to see this as an opportunity to serve your constituencies. Make sure you take the needs and wants of Lagos Youths to the fore in your plenary sessions at all time.
The state government is ever ready to continue working with the youths in order to take Lagos to the next level”, she added.
At the first plenary session after the inauguration, members of the House elected two principal officers, the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker. Hon. Murtala Seriki, representing Kosofe Constituency II, was elected the Speaker of the 3rd Legislative Assembly of the Lagos State Youth Parliament while Deputy Speaker’s seat was clinched by representative of Ojo Constituency II, Hon. Sanni Omowunmi Ruqayat.
However, other key posts are vacant at the moment as elections into principal positions are yet to be held. It will be recalled that The Lagos State Youth Parliament is the state leadership and legislative training ground for young people of Lagos State.
It is one of the State Youth Parliaments established by the Constitution of the Nigerian Youth Parliament which endows it with the responsibility of preparing Nigerian youth in Lagos for participation in decision-making, inculcating in them leadership qualities for governance and public administration as well as equipping Lagos youths adequately for future challenges in their immediate environment and the world at large.
The Lagos State Youth Parliament enjoys the goodwill of sitting right inside Lagos State Government Secretariat at Alausa in Ikeja. The Youth Parliament is a non-partisan establishment with standing organizational structure and Principal Officers.
The first Youth Parliament getting inaugurated in year 2012, while the Second session was
inaugurated in 2014. In the same vein, the Youth Commissioner, who was ably represented by the Director of Admin, and Human Resources, Mr. Ganiu Olanrewaju Rufai, presented certificate to the out-going members of Second Youth Parliament for their doggedness and
meaningful contributions to the growth of Youth in the state.