The Lagos State House of Assembly has initiated a bill that would make public office holders to earn public trusts through improving public transparency and accountability in all spheres of governance in the state.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Mudashiru Obasa, made this known during his opening speech at the public hearing of a new bill titled “Lagos State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission Law And For Connected Purposes”, on Friday, October 30, 2020.
Obasa, represented by the Deputy Speaker, Hon Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni, said the bill when passed would underscore the stature of the bill as not just germane towards ensuring further accountability and trust but also to further adequate security.
Obasa said the law was a public conscience, hence, regardless of how well drafted a bill is 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 when there is public trust in the leadership, public satisfaction would increase and conversely decrease crime rate.
Obasa noted that public hearing and stakeholders’ consultations were essential features of a good legislative process that endanger progressive governance
He said: “This is because it provides platform to cumulate the agitations, curate the wisdom of relevant stakeholders and reflect various interests in the actual legislation.
“To my mind, this showcase the true definition of democracy as described by the great American, Abraham Lincoln as being the government of the people, by the people and for the people.
“Therefore, 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.”
Obasa said 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 the public hearing.
Earlier, Mr. Victor Akande, Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, Public Petition, Human’s Right, and LASIEC, said the essence of the bill was to bring sanity and accountability to governance in the state.
He said: “With this bill, the administrative bottleneck that people usually encounter when dealing with government officials, will be put to an end.
“This commission is saddled with the responsibility of beaming searchlight into government activities.
“The commission will receive petitions from people who have any complaint to make and will be able to seek redress.”
Akande said the bill protects members of the commission from prosecution to give them a level of independence to do their job unhindered.
Packaged by Blessing Donatus
