By Josephine Oguntoyinbo
The Ondo State House of Assembly, on Wednesday, held a public hearing on two significant bills aimed at strengthening security and regulating domestic service operations across the state.
The public hearing was attended by representatives of the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the State, the Comptroller General of Immigration, traditional rulers, security agencies, and other relevant stakeholders.
The first bill, titled “A Bill for a Law to Provide for the Registration of Domestic Staff Service Providers and Collection of Data of Domestic Staff in Ondo State,” seeks to establish a legal framework for the proper documentation and monitoring of domestic workers.
Declaring the public hearing open, the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Chief Olamide Oladiji, described the bill as a proactive step toward enhancing the safety of residents and curbing criminal activities often linked to unregistered domestic employees.
Oladiji said the essence of the public hearing was to allow critical stakeholders to make inputs into the bills before their passage into law.
According to him, laws are made for the benefit of the people; hence, their contributions through their representatives are highly welcome.
He explained that the bill would ensure that data on domestic staff providers and employees are properly captured to safeguard employers and address issues of insecurity.
The Speaker also called on all relevant stakeholders to engage with the sponsors of the bills to fine-tune their provisions and ensure their smooth passage.
The second bill, “A Bill for a Law to Provide for the Prohibition of the Act of Kidnapping and Abduction and for Connected Purposes,” was also presented for consideration.
The proposed legislation seeks to strengthen existing laws against kidnapping and impose stiffer penalties on offenders, reflecting the state’s commitment to tackling insecurity and protecting lives and property.
During deliberations, lawmakers emphasised the importance of both bills to public safety, noting that, when passed into law, they will help curb crime, promote accountability, and foster a more secure environment for all residents of Ondo State.
Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi commended the state government, the Speaker, and the sponsor of the bills, stating that the initiatives, when enacted, would address critical security challenges in the state.
In his vote of thanks, the Clerk of the House, Benjamin Jaiyeola, appreciated the Speaker for his support in ensuring that the two bills were considered at the public hearing.
He also commended stakeholders for their meaningful contributions and assured the gathering that their inputs had been duly noted and would be reflected in the final drafts of the bills.