Lagos Governor signs two new bills into law

Lagos Governor signs two new bills into law
Abdul Semiu Babalola, Lagos

Lagos state government in south west Nigeria has signed into law, two bills that will add value to governance and enhance service delivery in the state.

The two bills signed into law by the state governor, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, include; Law to provide for the Establishment of Customary Courts, Administration of Justice Under Customary Law and for Connected Purposes, and Law to Regulate the Financial Management of Lagos State Government and Local Government Areas.

According to the Governor, “these laws will find support with the Executive, amongst other reasons, because they help to give value to governance. They help to improve service delivery to our people; and that should be one of the tests of any law that Parliament or government is championing.”

Statute of General Application

Governor Fashola said the law had become expedient because, some of the fees, the costs and the practices in the old law had been overtaken by current events.

“We must also recognize that customary laws are part of the body of laws that regulate our jurisprudence along with the received Common Law and laws that exist in Statute of General Application,” he stated.
 
He explained that the customary courts’ law sought to regulate and promote the administration of justice with regards to customary courts, pointing out that it would help in the promotion of values that define the origin of the people of Lagos.

In his words, “the law will help the Executive arm to give meaning to outlook of Government as I enumerated in my inaugural speech that one of the things that we would spend our time on in this tenure is the maintenance of Law and Order and you could see from the Appropriation Law, the provisions that we have made for Law and Order in the current tenure.”

The Financial Management Bill

On the Financial Management Bill, Fashola explained that it provides for the regulation of the State and Local Governments in the way funds put to the trust of public officers are managed and utilised to ensure that they give the greatest value required.

He also said the law limits the powers of the government to borrow to fund capital expenditure.

Governor Fashola said the law empowers the Judicial Service Commission to establish the customary courts in Lagos State.

The most important aspect of the law, according to the governor, is that it gives power to the Judicial Service Commission to designate a court to adjudicate on Islamic Law and matters relating to marriage, divorce, custody and inheritance among other provisions.

So far, seven bills have been signed into law by the Governor since assuming duty on May 29, 2011, for his second and final term as provided by the Nigerian constitution.

Shakira/Williams