20th March, 2020
Four bills including the Ogun State Fiscal Responsibility Law, 2019, State Public Procurement Law, 2019, People with Disability Law of Ogun State, 2019 and State Health Insurance (Amendment) Law, 2020 have scaled through first reading on the floor of the State House of Assembly.
The bills which were read for the first time by the Ag. Clerk of the Assembly, Deji Adeyemo before the lawmakers at a plenary presided over by Speaker Olakunle Oluomo are with the long titles: ” H.B No. 029/OG/2020- A Bill for a Law to provide for the Prudent, Sustainable, Transparent and Accountable Management of the Financial Resources of Ogun State of Nigeria and the Establishment of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission to ensure Sound Fiscal Management Regime and other connected purposes”.
Others are H.B No 030/OG/2019- A Bill for a Law to establish the Bureau of Public Procurement as the Regulatory Authorities responsible for the Monitoring and Oversight of Public Procurement, Harmonising the Existing Government Policies and Practices by Regulating, Setting Standard and Developing the Legal Framework and Professional Capacity for Public Procurement in Ogun State and for related matters” as well as “H. B No 031/OG/ 2020- A Bill for a Law to eliminate all forms of discrimination against persons with disabilities, equalize their opportunities in all aspect of life in the society and other matters incidental to”.
The last among the bills that scaled first reading at the plenary is titled: “HB NO 037/OG/2020- A Bill for a Law to amend the Ogun State Health Insurance Scheme Law, 2018”.
Meanwhile, the Ogun State House of Assembly has put on hold all visits by schools, groups or other individuals to the Legislative Complex, except those on appointments. This action according to the Speaker, was meant to contain the spread of Coronavirus (COVID) in the State, hence, only visitors on scheduled appointments and or with formal invitation would be allowed within the complex for the next 30 days in the first instance.
He called on all the stakeholders in the health sector, particularly community health workers, State Council of Baales, professional groups, trade associations as well as community Development Associations amongst others to step up measures towards educating members of the public on preventive and precautionary measures to control the spread of the virus in the State.
While commending the State Government for its efforts at preventing the spread of the virus in the State, he sought for more strategies at curtailing the spread of the disease.
Oluomo also implored the Assembly workers to ensure that they do hand washing and make use of sanitizer at the Assembly’s main gate before the resumption of work daily, cautioning people to avoid large gathering including handshake to further promote hygiene.