In a bid to strengthen access to justice dispensation for the people of the State, Ogun State House of Assembly has passed the State Magistrates’ Court (Amendment) Law, 2023.

The passage of the bill followed the presentation of the report of the House Committee on Justice, ethics and Public Petitions by its Chairman, Hon. Oluseun Adesanya, who also moved the motion for its adoption, seconded by Adegoke Adeyanju at a plenary presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

The Bill was later read and adopted clause-by-clause before the Committee of the Whole, after which the motion for the third reading of the bill was moved by the Majority Leader, Yusuf Sherif, seconded by Adeniran Ademola and supported by other lawmakers through a voiced vote.

Consequently, the Deputy Clerk of the House, Barr (Mrs.) Funmilayo Adeyemi, took the third reading of the bill before the lawmakers, thereafter, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide directed that the clean copies of the bill be transmitted to the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun for his assent.

In another development, the Local Government (Amendment) Law, 2024, scaled second reading on the floor of the House with members submitting that the amendment was aimed at creating a full-fledged Department of Audit Investigation and Control from the existing Department of Finance and Accounts in the Local Government Administration, with a view to ensuring transparency, accountability and effective service delivery at the third tier of Government.

Members who spoke in favour of the bill including the Vice Chairman of the Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Dickson Awolaja, Honourables Oluseun Adesanya, Folawewo Salami and Yusuf Sherif stated that the amendment poised to ensure improved value for scarce resources of government, ensuring career progression of the Local Government staff, while ensuring a strong check and balance for the Local Government Councils’ accounting system.

In his remarks, the Speaker said the bill when operational was aimed at enhancing the principles of separation of powers and would bring about a more vibrant local government administration that would be more responsible in its finances.

The Speaker thereafter committed the bill to the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for further legislative action.