The Lagos State House of Assembly is set to pass into law a bill for a law to establish the Lagos State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission Law and for Connected Purposes.
This was disclosed on Friday by the Speaker of the House, Right Honourable Mudashiru Obasa, at a day public hearing, held at the Assembly Pavilion in Alausa, Ikeja.
The bill, when passed into law, according to Obasa, would make public officers earn more public trusts by improving public transparency and accountability in all spheres of governance in the state.
The Speaker who was represented by the Deputy Speaker, Wasiu Sanni-Eshinlokun, disclosed that when the bill becomes a law, it would underscore the stature of the bill as not just germane towards ensuring further accountability and trust.
He said, “The current bill seeks to create the Lagos State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission in Section 2 of the bill.
“For clarity purposes, the objectives of the commission are elaborately spelt in Section 8 while the general functions are itemised in Section 14 of the bill.
“To ensure diligence, the bill creates a clear administrative structure; offences under the scope of the commission; the jurisdiction; the commission’s modus operandi; funds management and disciplinary procedures.”
He added that the law was a public conscience, hence, regardless of how well it is drafted, it remains sacrosanct to hear from and incorporate the conscience and thought of the public to make a good law.
The Speaker said the bill would further adequate security because there was public trust in the leadership, public satisfaction would increase and conversely decrease crime rate as witnessed in the EndSARS protest.
Obasa also noted that public hearing and stakeholders’ consultations were essential features of a good legislative process that engender progressive governance
“This is because it provides a platform to cumulate the agitations, curate the wisdom of relevant stakeholders and reflect various interests in the actual legislation.
“To my mind, this showcases the true definition of government as described by Abraham Lincoln being government of the people, by the people and for the people.
“Therefore, a good legislation must not just be a reflection of the yearnings of the populace but also the aggregate of the common interests of the majority,” he said.
He, however, added that a good legislation must be the sum interest of the people, not as perceived by the lawmakers but as articulated by the representative of the public through fora like this.
Earlier in his welcome address, Hon. Victor Akande said the essence of the bill was to bring sanity and accountability to governance in the state.
Akande, who is the Chairman, Committee on Judiciary, Public Petition, Human Rights and LASIEC, said, “With this bill, the administrative bottleneck that people usually encounter while dealing with government officials would come to an end; this will also put an end to bribery and corruption in public office.
“The commission would be saddled with the responsibility of beaming search light into government activities. The commission will also receive petitions from people who have any complaints and they will be able to seek redress.”
Akande added that the bill gives immunity to the commission members from prosecution as this was done to give them a level of independence to be able to do their job unhindered.
According to him, if we don’t do it that way people will just be dragging them up and down and that will not allow them to concentrate on the job they have been appointed to do.
