Wale Jagun
Mr Babajide Sanwo – Olu, the Governor of Lagos State on Monday signed a bill to establish the Public Complaints and Anti – Corruption Commission.
He assented to the Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission Bill of 2021, which is an executive bill passed by the Lagos State House of Assembly last year at a brief ceremony held in Alausa.
Sanwo-Olu also assented to the Lagos State Lotteries & Gaming Authority bill.
While signing the bill, he said that the action was a testimony to the State Government’s effort towards entrenching accountability in governance and checking malfeasance among officers entrusted with public resources.
“The bill establishing Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission is an important legislation critical to the delivery of quality services to the citizens.
“When we came in, we had said we would be accountable and responsible in the appropriation of the State’s resources. We want to stand in front of the citizens to give account on how public funds are being spent.
“To give credence to this promise, the executive arm initiated the bill and sent it to the Assembly for approval.
“We believe that this law would not only ensure accountability of public funds, responsibility of public office, but also promote dialogue among public officers to keep the trust of the people in the discharge of their duties in line with transparency.
“The anti-corruption commission will ensure that all approved activities are implemented in accordance with budgetary allocation.”
Sanwo-Olu said the anti-corruption commission would be independent in its operations and functions, pointing out that the agency would complement efforts of similar agencies in the police and federal establishment.
Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, said that the two bills signed by the Governor made it 10th legislation sponsored by the executive and passed by the House of Assembly to strengthen good governance.
Twenty-six executive bills, he said, have been initiated since inception of the current administration.
“The anti-corruption commission agency to be established is akin to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to prosecute misappropriation of public funds in the State.
“The chairman of the agency will be appointed by Mr. Governor, subject to the ratification of the House of Assembly. If the investigation leads to a prima facie case, the offender will be prosecuted in the court.”
Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, Hon. Rotimi Olowo, and his counterpart in Public Complaints and Judiciary, Hon. Victor Akande, attended the event.
