In its resolve to give legal backing for the establishment of Sacred Heart College of Nursing Sciences to boost the training of health care personnel, coupled with with the need to strengthen the process of rural road rehabilitation through the establishment of a trust fund to source funds for the administration of all categories of roads and ensure improved service in the State Health sector through the central distribution of drugs, the Ogun State House of Assembly has passed six bills covering the above mentioned areas for the overall benefits of the residents in the State.
The bills which had earlier been transmitted to the Assembly by the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, were today passed at the plenary presided over by Speaker Olakunle Oluomo at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
The bills included: “HB. No 086/OG/2022- the Sacred Heart College of Nursing Sciences Law, 2022- A Bill for a Law to make provisions for the Establishment of Sacred Heart College of Nursing Sciences Law, 2019; HB. NO. 062/OG/2021- The Ogun State Residents Registration Agency and the Registration of Ogun State Residents Law, 2021- A Bill for a Law to Provide for the Establishment of Ogun State Residents Registration Agency and the Registration of Ogun State Residents Law, 2021” as well as “HB. No. 081/OG/2022- Ogun State Rural Access Road Agency Law, 2022- A Bill for a Law to establish the Ogun State Rural Access Roads Agency (RARA) for the purpose of the Overall Management, Development, Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Maintenance of Class C and Class D Roads in the State of Ogun, and for other Matters Connected Therewith”.
Others are: “H.B. NO. 082/OG/2022-The Ogun State Road Fund (SRF) And The Ogun State Roads Fund Board And Administration (OGSRFBA) Law, 2022.-A Bill for a Law to Establish the State Roads Fund (SRF) and the Ogun State Roads Fund and Administration (OGSRFBA) for the purpose of Funding the Management, Planning, Development, Rehabilitation and Maintenance of Class B, Class C and D Roads in the State of Ogun, and for Other Matters Connected therewith”, and “HB. No. 085/OG/2022- the Ogun State Drug and Health Commodity Management Agency Law, 2022- A Bill for a Law to Make Provisions for Ogun State Drugs and Health Commodities Management Agency and other matters Connected therewith”.
The passage of the bills followed the presentation of reports by the Chairman of the House Committee on Lands and Housing, Hon. Damilola Soneye, Chairman of Committee on Oil, Gas, Energy, Water Resources and Rural Development, Abdul Bashir Oladunjoye, his Works and Infrastructure counterpart, Abayomi Fasuwa and that of Health, Adegoke Adeyanju, who thereafter moved the motion for the adoption of their separate reports seconded by Honourables Kemi Oduwole, Fasuwa, Oludaisi Elemide, Solomon Osho as well as Wahab Haruna and supported by other lawmakers.
The bills were later read and adopted clause-by-clause by the Committee of the Whole.
The motion for the third reading of the bills was later moved by the Majority Leader Yusuf Sheriff, seconded by Oladunjoye, Adeyanju, Oduwole, Adeyemi Ademuyiwa, and the Deputy Speaker, Akeem Balogun respectively; while the Clerk and Head of Legislative Service, ‘Deji Adeyemo did the third reading of the bills before the lawmakers.
Responding, Speaker Oluomo, thereafter directed that the clean copies of the five bills be forwarded to the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun for his assent.
Meanwhile, Ogun State Magistrates’ Court (Amendment) Law, 2022 today scaled through second reading with lawmakers submitting that the amendment was aimed at accommodating societal dynamics, global trends and international best practices, with a view to empowering the State Magistrate Courts to adjudicate on some relevant cases under their jurisdiction but which are currently being handled by the State High Courts.
Earlier while leading the debate on the bill, the House Committee on Justice, Ethics and Public Petitions, Hon. Solomon Osho stated that it would aid effectiveness and fast track justice dispensation; thereby strengthening justice dispensation in the State.
In his response, Speaker Oluomo explained that the proposed amendment, which was in line with the recommendations of the Presidential Committee on Ease of Doing Business, would further boost the rank of the Gateway State in the comity of States in the federation.
The Speaker thereafter committed the bill to the Committee on Justice, Ethics and Public Petition for further legislative actions.
