The Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday summoned one of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu‘s aides and a commissioner over alleged refusal to bring contracts before the House for ratification before execution.
The House summoned them sequel to a ‘Matter of Urgent Public Importance’ raised by Mr Nureni Akinsanya (All Progressives Congress-Mushin I) in Lagos on Tuesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the summoned officials are the Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Private Partnership, Ope George, and the state Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Bamgbose Martins.
The House said they were to furnish the legislators with information on their refusal to have recourse to it for ratification before contracts were signed.
Akinsanya had urged the House to look at the flagrant disregard for the laws of the state on contractual agreements.
He cited some PPP contracts allegedly entered into by Sanwo-Olu’s commissioner and aide without following due process.
According to him the trend needs to be discouraged, and the law enforced, hence all contracts should be put on hold for now.
“I am calling on the House to invite the commissioner and other concerned agencies for questioning,” he said.
Mr Rotimi Olowo (APC- Shomolu I) said the officers involved and the contractors should come before the House for scrutiny.
Commenting, Mr Temitope Adewale (APC-Ifako-Ijaiye I) said ratification of the House was in the interest of the people and the state.
Adewale said approving contracts without bringing them before the House for ratification indicated flagrant disregard for the rule of law.
The Deputy Speaker of the House, Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni (APC-Lagos Island I), who presided over the plenary, ruled that the individuals be summoned.
Eshinlokun-Sanni said this was to avail the House with the required details, to give a clearer picture and guard against the untoward development.