What to know about first Lagos female Speaker, Lasbat Meranda

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Hon. Lasbat Meranda has emerged as the first woman to serve as Speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly, after seven men had previously held the position between October 2, 1979. Hon. Oladosu Oshinowo was the first Speaker.

She replaced Hon. Mudashiru Obasa who had served as Speaker for nearly 10 years before being impeached on Monday.

Obasa’s impeachment, amidst corruption allegations came up suddenly and immediately Lasbat Meranda was elected as the new Speaker.

Mrs Meranda was first elected member of the Lagos House of Assembly from Apapa 1 in 2015 when Mr Obasa was first elected Speaker. She is currently serving her third term as a lawmaker.

Before joining the Lagos parliament, she worked as a political aide in Apapa Local Government Area between 2008 and 2014.

She had previously worked in the private sector, including running an oil and gas company.

She was born on August 16, 1980, in Lagos. She attended Randle Primary School and Anglican Girls Grammar School and took undergraduate and graduate studies at Lagos State University and the University of Lagos, respectively.

Her legislative records remained unclear, but parliamentary sources said she was a loyal member of the ruling All Progressives Congress and always toed the party line.