By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Omotayo Bamgbose Martins, has been summoned by the Lagos State House of Assembly to explain why he refused to follow due process in the award of a contract to a company.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Nureni Akinsanya, while moving a motion on Tuesday under Matters of Urgent Public Importance backed by Section 26 of the PPP Law, accused the Commissioner of awarding a contract without recourse to law.
In a statement issued by Mr Eromosele Ebhomele, the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, the state parliament Mr Martins committed the alleged offence with the office of the Public Private Partnership (PPP), which was created by the Speaker to look into all the private partnership agreements entered into in the state.
“The trend of not passing through the House in PPP agreements needs to be stopped and discouraged, and the law of this State, as passed by the Lagos State House of Assembly, must be duly complied with and enforced,” Mr Akinsanya argued.
In his contribution, Mr Sa’ad Olumoh, who chairs the House Committee on PPP, noted that, “I observed in the course of our meetings with the Special Adviser in charge of PPP that a lot of MDAs have not met up with the due process as it involves PPP agreement.”
“Sections 8, 9 and 10 are very clear, and the House of Assembly is not a rubber stamp. Due process must be followed, and agreements should be ratified by the House of Assembly. We need to protect the interest of the State Government as well as that of private investors,” he added.
On his part, Mr Temitope Adewale, the Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation, noted that ratification of such agreements by the House is in the interest of the people and the State because of “unforeseen circumstances that could lead to litigation.
“PPP is a brilliant idea; laws made to direct the process need to be followed.
“Contracts being signed and not brought before the house for ratification is a flagrant disregard for the rule of law,” he said.
“It is wrong for the government to enter into partnership with private organisations without recourse to the legislative House. It is an aberration,” the Chairman of the House Committee on Works, Mr Abiodun Tobun, noted.