The Ondo State House of Assembly in Akure on Wednesday held a public hearing on two significant bills aimed at strengthening security and improving the regulation of domestic service operations across the state.

The bill is “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”

The other bill is “A Bill for a Law to Provide for the Prohibition of the Act of Kidnapping and Abduction and for Connected Purposes.”

The Ondo State House of Assembly Speaker, Olamide Oladiji, described the two bills as a proactive step towards enhancing the safety of residents.

Mr Oladiji added that the bills, if passed into law, would curb criminal activities often linked to unregistered domestic employees and kidnapping.

He noted that the domestic staff bill was sought to establish a legal framework for the proper documentation and monitoring of domestic workers.
According to him, the bill, if passed into law, will also generate funds into the government’s coffers.

The speaker said the need for the public hearing was to ensure input from critical stakeholders in the bills before passing them into laws.

“Laws are made for the benefit of the people; hence, their contributions are welcome. The bill will capture the data of domestic staff providers and domestic employees in ensuring that their employers are safe and insecurity is addressed. Regarding the bill on kidnapping, the proposed legislation aims to strengthen existing laws against kidnapping and provide stiffer penalties for offenders. It reflects the state’s commitment to tackling insecurity and protecting lives and property,” he said.

Also, Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, representing the All Progressives Congress (APC) Owo 1, emphasised the importance of both bills to public safety.

He noted that when passed into law, the bills would curb crime, promote accountability, and foster a more secure environment for residents of Ondo State.

Mr Ogunmolasuyi commended Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and Mr Oladiji, as well as the sponsor of the bill, stating that the bills would address critical security issues in the state when passed into laws. 

(NAN)