OSHA: Osun state local government Areas, Creation & Administration bill pass third reading

Osun State Local Government Areas, Creation & Administration (Amendment 6) Bill, 2023 has passed the Third Reading.

The motion for the bill to become law was moved by Hon. Babajide Kofoworola Adewunmi and seconded by Hon. Rotimi Ogunriande.

Consequently, a bill for a law to Amend Osun State Local Government Areas, Creation and Administration (Amendment 5) Law 2019 was read by the Clerk to the House.

Osun State New Town & Growth Areas Development Authority (Repeal) Bill, 2023 Policy Thrust.

The Honourable Speaker requested that the sponsor of the bill, Hon. Olalekan Adeoti present the policy thrust.

Osun New Town and Growth Areas Development Authority (establishment) Law, 2022 was passed into law to develop, hold, manage, sell, lease or let, landed properties, and residential houses in urban and rural areas within Osun State. It is meant to be a sister agency working with the Ministry of Lands, Physical Planning and Urban Development.

The bill is to address the following lapses:

• Authority has been operating without a law guiding its operation since its inception in 2017.
• Suspiciously, the law was passed at the twilight of the end (Precisely 25th November 2022) of the last administration to legalize its activities.
• The law was presented and passed in a single day.
• Its operation and that of the Ministry of Lands, Physical Planning and Urban Development are at logger’s head over land allocations and necessary certifications.
• The authority was constituted without the involvement and input of the relevant stakeholders in drawing up the survey plan in the extract submitted for approval on some of its operations.
• There is no operational cost for the Authority to function thereby encouraging misappropriation of funds generated.
• There are no well-delineated boundaries administered for the authority, free from the operations of the Ministry of Lands, physical planning and urban development.

It is therefore imperative that the law is being repealed and re-enacted bringing in relevant stakeholders, agencies and parastatals and with due process.

Still, in the same sitting, Honourable Taofiq Olayiwola aligned himself with the bill while he recalled that at the second sitting of the 8th Assembly, the Honourable Speaker graciously constituted an Adhoc committee to review the laws that were hurriedly passed by the last assembly. He added that this law that is about to be repealed is one of them.

Hon. Babajide Kofoworola hinted that how the bill was passed by the last assembly was shady. He noted that the then DG, Arc. Muyiwa Ige was acting even before the law was enacted.

The Honourable Speaker aligned with the merits presented by his colleague, he then requested that the House proceed on a second reading of the Bill.

Similarly, the Osun State New Town & Growth Areas Development Authority (Repeal) Bill, 2023 Second Reading and the motion was moved by Babajide Kofoworola Adewunmi and seconded by Hon. Sanmi Araoye.

While the clerk read the Bill for the Second Reading.

Also, Osun State Anti Corruption Agency Establishment Authority Bill, 2023 Policy Thrust.

The Honourable Speaker requested that the sponsor of the bill, Hon. Olalekan Adeoti present the policy thrust.

The essence of the policy thrust bill is to address the following:

•  Corruption erodes trust, weakens democracy, hampers economic development and further exacerbates inequality, social division and crisis.
• The bill will reduce corruption drastically.
• It will promote accountability and transparency in the system
•  It will enforce due process
• Osun will join the committee of States (Kano, Oyo, Lagos and Eboyin) that has domesticated anti-corruption bills.

Responding to the reading of the bill, Hon. Adeyemi Adewumi commended the sponsor of the bill for the presentation of a brilliant policy thrust. He added that corruption as it were is a major challenge in this present society hence it requires that we all rise to end it. He added that the bill when passed into law will also block leakages and integrate discipline in the society. He submitted that the House should not just pass the bill to law but be ready to enforce it.

Hon. Tajudeen Adeyemi aligned himself with the merit of the bill and hinted that the bill is of great magnitude and should be given a deserving prominence to foster smooth implementation.

In the same vein, Hon. Babajide Kofoworola Adewunmi then suggested that the house should have a Public Hearing to allow stakeholders to have input.

Hon. Olaide Ajibola applauded the sponsor of the Bill and supported the bill.

The Honourable Speaker aligned with the merits presented by his colleagues, he then requested that the House proceed on a second reading of the Bill.

To fight corruption in the state,  State Anti Corruption Agency Establishment Authority Bill, 2023 was presented for a Second Reading and the motion was moved by Babajide Kofoworola Adewunmi and seconded by Hon. Olumide Fatumise, while the clerk read the Bill for the Second Reading.

Also, the Osun State New Town & Growth Areas Development Authority (Repeal) Bill, 2023 Committee of Wholeo, was presented and Hon. Babajide Kofoworola Adewunmi moved a motion that the house dissolved into the Committee of Whole and was seconded by Hon. Olawale Akerele.

The House consequently dissolved into the Committee of the Whole and some amendments were made to the Bill, also the signature of the drafter of the existing law was cancelled.

Hon. Babajide Kofoworola Adewunmi then moved a motion for the Honourable Speaker to report the progress made at the Committee of Whole to the House, and the motion was Seconded by Hon. Olumide Fatumise.

The Honourable Speaker reported the progress made to the House after which Hon. Babajide Kofoworola Adewunmi moved a motion that all amendments made at the committee of whole as been reported by the Honourable Speaker should form part of the bill. The motion was seconded by Hon. Abiola Awoyeye.