Lagos Assembly Hosts 7th Children’s Parliament, Opens Doors To Young Lawmakers

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In a bid to provide practical insight into legislative proceedings, the Lagos State House of Assembly has hosted members of the 7th Children’s Parliament at a plenary session held at the Assembly Complex.

The event organised in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development, was themed “Understanding the Proceedings of Parliament.”

It provided the young parliamentarians with an opportunity to conduct their first legislative business while enhancing their understanding of the roles and responsibilities of lawmakers in representing their constituents.

Welcoming the parliamentarians on behalf of the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. (Hon) Mudashiru Obasa, the Chairman of the House Committee on Youth and Social Development, Hon. Orekoya Abiodun (Somolu 1) encouraged the young lawmakers to maintain strong ties with their communities and familiarise themselves with their constituency representatives.

He explained that constituency representatives play a vital role in identifying and addressing the needs of the people, urging the children to develop a thorough understanding of the issues affecting their respective communities.

Delivering a goodwill message to the 7th Children’s Parliament, the Clerk of the House, Mrs. Adenike Oshinowo, provided an overview of the legislative process and described the visit as an opportunity for the children to understand the responsibilities associated with leadership and representation.

She urged the young parliamentarians to appreciate the expectations placed on leaders by their communities and to regard their positions as opportunities to serve and make meaningful contributions to society.

The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Pharm. Mrs. Toyin Oke-Osayintolu, who represented the Commissioner, Mr. Mobolaji Ogunlende, described the occasion as a significant milestone for the 7th Children’s Parliament, saying “The Children’s Parliament provides a platform for young people to articulate issues affecting children across Lagos State and ensures that their voices are heard on matters concerning their welfare, safety, education and development”.

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She, however, reminded the young parliamentarians that their positions should not be viewed merely as titles or personal achievements, but as a “call to service,” stressing that they had been entrusted with the responsibility of representing children across the state.

The Speaker of the 7th Children’s Parliament, Rt. Hon. Abdulsalam Anjola, presided over the sitting. In attendance were the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Raji Aminat Temilola; Majority Leader, Hon. Ojeniyi Daniella; Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Olanrewaju Oladunni; Chief Whip, Hon. Salaudeen Hassanat; Deputy Chief Whip, Hon. Babalola Esther; and Minority Leader, Hon. Kareem Toheebat.

The proceedings featured the presentation of proposed bills, including the Out-of-School Children and Child Protection Bill; Child Safety, Drug Abuse and Domestic Violence Prevention Bill; and the Class Size and Instructional Materials Improvement Bill, all of which were read for the first time.

The Parliament also passed a motion titled “The Need to Reduce the Number of Out-of-School Children and Protect Children from Street Life and Child Labour,” moved by the Majority Leader, Hon. Ojeniyi Daniella, as a resolution of the Children’s Parliament.