On Monday, a bill seeking penalties and fines for willful and accidental damage to private and public property was presented before the Osun House of Assembly.

The bill, ‘Osun State Property Protection Bill 2024’, was sponsored by Adewumi Adeyemi, the lawmaker representing the Obokun constituency.

Mr Adeyemi, in a letter addressed to the speaker, Adewale Egbedun, said that the proposed bill would enable the protection of public and private properties in Osun by establishing penalties for damage.

“The bill provides clear legal guidelines on property protection, covering incidents related to accidental, intentional and negligent damage, including traffic-related harm and civic disturbances.

“Additionally, the bill introduces a reporting system and defines penalties and fines to serve as deterrents.” the letter said.

Similarly, the bill seeking to increase the remittances to the office of the auditor-general for local governments was also introduced before the assembly.

The bill, ‘Osun State Local Government (Amendment No. 2) Bill 2024’, was sponsored by Bamidele Lawal, the House Committee chairman on Public Account, representing the Osogbo constituency.

Mr Lawal said that the bill aimed to increase the percentage of contribution remitted from the Osun government as audit fees from 40 per cent to 60 per cent.

The audit fees are meant to care for services rendered by the auditor-general of the local governments. Mr Lawal said the bill equally seeks to repeal the Osun State Local Government (Amendment) Law 2018.

After that, the Osun State Fire Service Establishment Bill 2024 was passed after its third reading.

Subsequently, Mr Egbedun directed that clean copies of the bill be sent to Governor Ademola Adeleke for his assent. 

(NAN)