The Ogun Assembly on Tuesday in Abeokuta passed a bill for the establishment of the Ogun State Citizens’ Rights Directorate.
The Whip , Mr Oludotun Fasanya , moved the motion for the third reading of the bill while it was seconded by Mr Olakunle Oluomo.
Mr Samson Onademuren, Chairman, House Committee on Justice, Ethics and Public Petitions, said that the passage of the bill would assist the less privileged and protect the rights of average citizens.
Onademuren said that the bill would also give legal backing to its activities in line with the provision of the law without depending on the State Ministry of Justice.
The lawmaker said the directorate would be empowered to handle cases that border on human rights and to take up cases on behalf of individuals who do not have resources to secure the services of lawyers.
“The directorate will serve as a private lawyer to the citizen; the only difference is that they are going to be paid by the state government.
“We have this law already existing in Lagos and some other states in the country, it is good that Ogun has also passed the bill into law,” he said.
Onademuren said that a citizens’ rights directorate would go a long way in putting smiles on the faces of the less privileged.
The Speaker, Mr Suraj Adekunbi, directed that clean copy of the bill be forwarded to Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of the state for his assent.
The bill to establish the Ogun Sports Development Trust Fund and Management Committee Law also scaled the second reading at the plenary session.
Fasanya said that the bill would enable the state government to raise funds required to provide equipment and more facilities in areas where they were lacking.
“Sports is a means of engaging the youths; if there are adequate sporting equipments, the youths will be taken off the street; crimes and unemployment will be reduced,” he said.
NAN reports that the bill to establish the Ogun State Water Sector Law, also scaled the second reading.
The Speaker referred the two bills to the House Committee on Youths and Sports Development and the Committee on Ethics, Justice and Public Petitions respectively for further action.
