Ogun state assembly passes three bills, seeks 30% employment slots for host communities

Yanju Uwala in Abeokuta

The Ogun State House of Assembly  on Thursday, passed three bills, including the; Ogun State Mortgages and Foreclosure Law (2019), State Health Insurance Scheme (Amendment) Law, 2020 and State Regulations Approval Law, 2020, after barely eight days of conveying public hearing to seek inputs from stakeholders into the bills.

Penpushing reports that the bills were passed following the presentation of the Committees’ reports by their respective Chairmen, who are; Honorables Damilola Soneye, Adegoke Adeyanju and Modupe Mujota, who thereafter moved the motions for their adoption, seconded by Honourables Wahab Haruna, Atinuke Bello and Abayomi Fasuwa with an affirmative support from all the lawmakers, after which the bills were later read and adopted clause-by-clause by the Committee of the Whole House.

The Majority Leader, Yusuf Sheriff,however, later moved motion for the third reading of the bills and seconded by the Deputy Speaker, Dare Kadiri, Ganiyu Oyedeji and Sola Adams respectively; while the Acting Clerk, ‘Deji Adeyemo did the third reading of the bills before the lawmakers.

Penpushing further reports that the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olakunle Oluomo,in his own remarks  directed that the clean copies of the bills be transmitted to the Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun for his assent.

The Assembly in its commitment towards ensuring promotion of local content in the State to aid increased indigenes’ participation in the State economy, also facilitated the passage of a resolution urging the State Government to compel all companies and corporate organisations situated and operating in the State, to effect not less than thirty percent (30%) local content in all categories of their staff composition in terms of employment (junior, senior and management) amongst others.

Penpushing also reports that,the passage of the resolution followed a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Yusuf Sheriff and supported by his Ijebu-Ode State Constituency counterpart, Kemi Oduwole at the plenary.

The Deputy Speaker, Dare Kadiri while opening debate on the motion said it had become imperative to ensure that the teeming populace, especially the youth in the State were given a reasonable quota in the recruitment process of all industries and corporate organisations sited within the State with a view to reducing unemployment and social vices.

Penpushing reports that,corroborating the sponsor’s view, other  members including Sola Adams, Yusuf Adejojo, Yusuf Amosun, Sylvester Abiodun, Solomon Osho and Kemi Oduwole explained that the resolution,when implemented would enhance peaceful co-existence between organisations and their host communities, thereby contributing to the rapid development of the host communities through even spread of job opportunities.

The other lawmakers which include; Abdul Bashir Oladunjoye, Ganiyu Oyedeji, Atinuke Bello, Yusuf Sheriff, Haruna Wahab and Adegoke Adeyanju called for the domestication of the National Content Act in the State, while giving preference to the qualified members of the host communities in the recruitment stage of employment.

Penpushing further reports that the Speaker  opined that the implementation of the resolution would be of great advantage for the teeming youth, adding that the assembly would soon put up a legislation to address local content and federal character amongst others in the State.