Ademola Adeshina
The Lagos State House of Assembly has passed the bill to combat and stop the spread of the Coronavirus Pandemic in the State into law.
The Bill was passed during the House plenary session on Thursday 26, 2020.
The Clerk of the House, Mr. Sanni Azeez has been asked to transmit the Bill to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to give his assent.
The Bill will empower the Governor to incur a Kick-off expenditure in sum of Twenty Billion Naira (20,000,000,000.00) to combat and stop the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic.
According to the Bill, “The Governor in combating the Coronavirus pandemic, shall declare a state of emergency in the State to protect the people of the State from the pandemic.
“The Bill also calls for a Trust Fund named Coronavirus Pandemic Trust Fund with a board to manage this, but supervised by the Executive. The Trust fund shall consists of funds and material donations from individuals, private and public organisations.
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“As from the commencement of this Law only essential services such as food supply, pharmacy, shops, water supply, petrol filling Stations and other relevant agencies” shall be in full operations unless the Governor declares otherwise.
The Bill stipulates that “All security agencies in the State including the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency shall effectively ensure that policy directives of the Governor are implemented and enforced.
The Bill made provision for violation of rules or directives at a time of pandemic. It states, “Where there is a violation of a close down or stay at home order, security agencies shall have power to arrest without warrant and may detain any person who violates the close down or stay at home order for at least forty-eight (48) hours.
“Where the arrested person is found guilty, the person is liable to a fine of one Hundred Thousand Nara fine (N100,000.00) or one (1) month imprisonment or three (3) months Community service.