Amotekun bill scales second reading in Ogun Assembly

The proposed bill on Ogun State Security Network Agency Law, 2020 on Thursday scaled second reading at the State House of Assembly, as all members threw their weight behind the proposed bill with a call for compulsory insurance scheme and standard rules of engagement for members of the Corps upon its establishment.

Penpushing reports that, this was the summation of opinions of all the Assemblymen who  took turn to speak in favour of the bill shortly after the motion for its second reading was moved by the Majority Leader, Yusuf Sheriff, seconded by  Sola Adams and unanimously supported by all lawmakers at the plenary.

The bill was titled “HB.NO 035/OG/2020-A Bill For a Law to Establish the Ogun State Security Network Agency and Amotekun Corps to Assist in Maintaining Law and Order in the State and for connected Purposes”.

The lawmakers  explained that the law was targeted at devising a community policing scheme to complement and collaborate with existing security agencies to reduce crimes and criminalities to the barest minimum in the State, South West and nation at large;  hence, the need to ensure a comprehensive insurance scheme for all the operatives of the Corps.

Penpushing further reports that, stressing the role of government in the protection of lives and properties,s the lawmakers aid when the bill becomes operational, it would lead to the establishment of the Amotekun Corps which would strenghten the security architecture through collaborative techniques on information and intelligence gathering system within communities towards combating insecurity in various communities across the State.

The lawmakers, who added that the bill when passed by the Assembly and subsequently signed into law by the State Governor,  Dapo Abiodun, would enhance economic prosperity, engender smooth inter-agency collaboration between local security and existing security agencies to further make the State a safe haven for economic development, called for effective monitoring mechanism of the operations and activities of the Corps towards ensuring efficiency and quality service delivery.

They added that the operation would boost the ratio of security personnel to the citizens, with emphasis on promotion of sanity in the recruitment process, while commending the Attorneys -General from the South West States putting together the all-inclusive bill, with an admonition that the activities of the Corps be devoid of overzealousness and recklessness.

The Speaker  Rt Hon Olakunle Oluomo who presided over the sitting in his remarks  lauded  his colleague-lawmakers for their meaningful contributions to the debate on the bill, pointing out the need for pension scheme for the members of the Corps with strict compliance to standard rules of engagement in their operations and thereafter committed the bill to the ad-hoc Commitee on Security and Strategy.