The Lagos State House of Assembly has described the efforts of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his team in the fight against the spread of COVID-19 pandemic as unprecedented and commendable.
The House, which appreciates the effort, tenacity, and determination of the Executive Arm said: “at this period of a major health crisis, it can only take a passionate person like the Governor, with the needed support of the state’s lawmakers, to keep things running”.
The House, however, discredited the report in some sections of the media which gave the impression that it had asked Governor Sanwo-Olu to account for the COVID-19 funds donated to the state.
Hon. Tunde Braimoh, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Security and Strategy, said in a statement on Saturday, May 9, 2020, that the House never particularly asked the Governor to start accounting for the donations as reported, especially at a time when the challenge is still being tackled.
The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, had, during the sitting, explained that the Governor cannot be invited by a Committee in the event of the need for clarifications post-COVID-19 pandemic.
He thus opined that to avoid a sort of friction between the Legislature and the Executive, the position of a co-chairman should be introduced in the bill.
“Looking at the situation at hand where it might be difficult to follow every letter of the constitution, there is the need for us to set aside a fund for the governor to expend in this situation,” Obasa had said.
It is noteworthy that the bill grants the Governor some powers which eases his access to funds for the emergency situation and also gives him the power to make proclamations where necessary.
The House unanimously commends the Governor for his consistency and determination to make Lagos safe for all.
Ifeoluwa Ayomide
