The Ondo State House of Assembly has committed a bill meant to address the menace of land grabbers to the House Committee on Land for smooth passage.
Bill for a Law to prohibit forceful entry and illegal occupation of landed properties, violent and fraudulent conducts in relations to landed properties in Ondo State
It is a first private bill sponsored by Hon. Moyinoluwa Ogunwumiju, the lawmaker who sponsored the bill, said that he drafted the bill to bring harmful activities of land grabbers that were harmful to the development of the state.
Ogunwumiju added that activities of land grabbers in the state discouraged investors and development in the state.
The lawmaker, who represents Ondo West Constituency 1, said that if the bill could sail through, it would bring confidence to potential land buyers and investors.
Also speaking on the bill, Mrs Wunmi Obayelu, representing Ilaje Constituency 2, said that the bill was an opportunity to correct the wrongs because the issue of land grabbing had terminated a lot of lives and destroyed properties.
Obayelu asked the assembly’s members to unanimously support the bill.
Similarly, Mr Felix Afe, representing Akoko North West 2, said the bill if passed to law would criminalize unlawful activity on landed properties and it would allow law enforcement agencies to investigate and protect the right of land owners.
The Majority Leader, Mr Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, representing Owo Constituency 1, commended the sponsor of the bill at the particular time.
Ogunmolasuyi said that there should be public hearing so that the bill would have necessary contents that could make it appropriate and useful for people of the state.
He, therefore, moved a motion to the appropriate committee and Mr Chris Ayebusiwa, representing Okitipupa Constituency 1 seconded the motion.
In his own remarks, the Speaker of the House of the Assembly, Chief Olamide Oladiji asked for support of the lawmakers towards the bill being the first private bill in the 10th Assembly.
Oladiji notes that if the bill was passed to law, it would checkmate excesses of land sellers and address the menace of land grabbers.
He commended the sponsor of the bill, calling on other lawmakers to sponsor bills and motions that would transform their respective constituencies and the state at large.
The speaker gave the House Committee on Land two weeks to submit its reports on the bill.
Also,the bill to provide for a law to establish a board for secondary schools passed through Second Reading to Committee Stage.
Mr Suleiman Murtala, the Vice Chairman, of the House Committee on Education, said the bill was long overdue.
“ If you look at achievements of
SUBEB, you should know that secondary schools deserve it.
“ It will ensure proper monitoring of our secondary schools and there would be appropriate discipline.
“The rot and decadence in schools will be corrected if this bill is passed and this will bring up the educational success and address infrastructure decay.
“My colleagues should consider the bill to sail through for development of secondary school education in the state,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr Rotimi Abitogun, representing Akure South Constituency 2, said that most schools were in deteriorating condition and we’re exposed to danger, adding that the board would ensure that quality was guaranteed in schools.
He, therefore, moved a motion to Committee on Education and it was seconded by Mr Olatunji Oshati representing Ose Constituency.
Supporting the bill, the speaker of the assembly said that secondary schools in the state needed total overhauling and appreciated Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa w for coming up with the bill because it would go a long way in transforming the sun sector. H