Deputy governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat (left); Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyo Onigbanjo (SAN) at the signing into law bills establishing Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority and the Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission by the governor at the Lagos House, Ikeja…yesterday
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday, signed the Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission Bill 2021 into law to promote accountability and transparency in governance process.
With the bill, sponsored by the executive arm, the state government is expected to follow it up with the establishment of an anti-corruption agency primarily tasked with investigation and prosecution of state government officials and registered contractors indicted for economic crime and financial misappropriation.
The governor also assented to the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority Bill of 2021 initiated by the Executive Arm to co-ordinate activities of lotteries agencies operating within the state.
Sanwo-Olu, after signing the two bills into law, said 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.
He said the state anti-corruption agency would be independent and also complement efforts of similar agencies at the federal level.
The Lotteries and Gaming Authority Bill of 2021, the governor said, would simplify and incorporate technological innovations in the gaming sector.
The law sought to harmonise five gaming and lottery formats, such as casino, jackpot, pool, lotto and sports betting, thereby regulating the sector and checking fraudulent activities of unregistered game centres within the state.
Sanwo-Olu said the former lottery law of the state did not meet the contemporary needs in the industry, which was why the executive initiated the bill to accommodate technology in regulating the business.
He reiterated that the state government’s actions would boost confidence of the public and promote accountability in governance.
He, however, thanked the Speaker and members of the House of Assembly for co-operating with the executive arm and consistently prioritising executive bills aimed at delivering good governance.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo, said the two bills signed by the governor were among those sponsored by the executive and passed by the House of Assembly to strengthen good governance.
He said 26 executive bills had been initiated since the inception of the administration.
