As part of efforts to further reposition the Judiciary to ensure speedy justice dispensation, as well as the need to enhance sustained protection of the environment and reduce the effect of climate change, the Ogun State House of Assembly led by Speaker, Rt. Hon. (Prince) Suraju Ishola Adekunbi has passed two bills.

The bills are on Arbitration, Alternative Dispute Resolution Law of Ogun State, 2017 titled: “H.B No. 17/OG/ 2017- A Law to provide for the Resolution of Disputes by Arbitration and Other Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanisms as well as the Establishment of the Ogun State Court of Arbitration and for Connected purpose”, alongside that of :”H. B No.23/OG/2017- The Forest and Wildlife Preservation Law, which seeks to provide for the conservation, preservation and control of forest and Wildlife in the State”.

The passage of the two bills followed the presentations of the Chairmen, House Committees on Justice, Ethics and Public Petitions led by Adebowale Ojuri and his Agriculture and Forestry counterpart, Hon. Adeyemi Harrison.

The Chairmen thereafter moved the motion for the adoption of their reports seconded by Honourables Aina Akinpelu and Olayiwola Ojodu respectively and supported by the Whole House through a voice vote after which the bills were read and adopted clause-by-clause by the Committee of the whole House.

The motion for the third reading of the bills was moved by the Minority Leader, Olawale Alausa and seconded by Honourables Adebiyi Adeleye and Adebowale Ojuri respectively, after which the Clerk of the Assembly, Engr. Lanre Bisiriyu, did the third reading of the two bills.

In his response, the Speaker Adekunbi subsequently directed that the clean copies of the bills be forwarded to the State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun for his assent.
The Speaker also at the plenary announced the commencement of the 2018 budget defence by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the State and urged all the heads of MDAs in the State to attend the budget defence punctually and provide necessary information to ensure the success of the exercise.

In another development, the State House of Assembly has lauded the President Mohammed Buhari led Federal Government for the commencement of drainage channels at Ago Iwoye area of the State being part of the ecological intervention fund project.

Speaker Adekunbi gave the commendation, while responding to the submission of a member representing Ijebu North II, State Constituency, Hon. Oludare Kadiri, who acknowledged the mobilization of contractors to site in fulfillment of the electioneering promises of the Federal Government.

Kadiri therefore seized the opportunity to appeal to the Federal Government to ensure that the contractors handling the project give preference to local content in the execution of the project.