By Josephine Oguntoyinbo
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The Ondo State House of Assembly has passed into law a bill establishing the State Public Complaints, Financial Crime And Anti- Corruption Commission And Other Matters Connected thereto.
Report of the Committee of the Whole House set up to scrutinise the bill had earlier been presented to the House at its plenary presided over by the Speaker, Mr Bamidele Oleyelogun yesterday.
Presenting the report on behalf of the Committee, the Deputy, Speaker Samuel Aderoboye said that following the several sittings and the facts generated from the stakeholders, observed that the provisions contained in the bill would to a large extent discourage, curb and reduce financial crime and anti-corruption in public service.
The Committee observed that the bill would create employment opportunities for the people of the state and promote public awareness .
In its recommendations, there shall be for the Commission a board consisting Chairman and members and shall hold office for a period of five years and may be re-appointed for another term of five years.
In section 24(1) of the bill, their shall be Departments of public complaints and Citizens Right, Anti corruption and general investigation, Assess monitoring and recovering, among others, while the Department of legal prosecution shall prosecute suspects.
The Majority Leader , Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi while moving a motion for the bill to be moved to third reading commended the Committee headed by the Speaker and all the stakeholders involved in the bill for a job well done.
In another development, the Speaker inaugurated Autonomy Committee headed by a lawmaker representing Ilaje Constituency 1, Prince Abayomi Akinruntan, while its Secretary is the Clerk of the House, Benjamin Jayeola.
The Speaker who appreciated the House for its total commitment towards Legislative business and Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for the achievement recorded so far declared that the House will commence recess from January 6 to March 4, 2022.
The Chairman House Committee on Information, Olugbenga Omole while Speaking with The Hope shortly after the plenary informed that the bill has been passed into law in some States like Lagos, Oyo and Ogun.
He noted that the bill sent to the House in December last year was properly scruitinized before passed into law.
According to him, it is a way of domesticating a bill in the State which has been in operation in the country.
While speaking on their recess, Omole noted that it was delayed due to some official assignment which they needed to complete.
Meanwhile, the State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo has described the allegation of the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party that the Anti-Corruption Bill passed by the state assembly is meant to shield the governor’s family as puerile and baseless
Ojogo in a statement said by the bill would serve the purpose of the State, rather than the warped imagination of the grossly deficient opposition.
He said the formulation of the law had in mind to decentralize the anti-corruption fight to the federating units of the Nigerian Federation.
“It suffices therefore, that, the rush to disseminate falsehood appears more important to the opposition PDP than the need for a TRULY FEDERAL NIGERIA.”
