People living with disability and the elderly in Osun State are receiving attention, as the State House of Assembly on Thursday received four Private Member Bills sponsored by one of its members, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, representing Obokun Constituency.
The bills are, Cattle Trading and Grazing Bill 2016; Forestry, Natural and Mineral Resources Development Agency (Establishment) Bill 2016; Mandatory Usage of Standardised Measure and Weight Bill 2016; and Special People’s Bill 2016.
At the plenary, the Speaker, Honourable Najeem Salaam, informed members of the presentation of the bill and read the covering letters to the members.
‘Prevent Frequent Clashes’
According to the letter read by the Speaker, “Cattle Trading and Grazing Bill 2016 is a bill to make provision for the regulation and granting of permit for cattle trading and grazing and the establishment of control posts in the state.”
He added that “the bill, when passed into law, will sanitise the business of cattle trading and grazing, prevent frequent clashes between herders and farm owners, and bring in more revenue to the coffers of the state”.
“The Forestry, Natural and Mineral Resources Development Agency bill will help to protect forestry, natural and mineral resources, as well as make the sub-sector attractive to investors, generate employment opportunities for the citizenry and increase revenue generation for the state”.
Salaam also stressed that the Mandatory Usage of Standardised Measure and Weight Bill, would reset the economy through promotion of equity and encouragement of stability and catalysed economic growth, boost confidence in trade and commerce in the state.
On the Special People’s Bill, the speaker said: “When this bill is passed into law, it would protect and provide special consideration for elderly citizens and people living with disability in the area of welfare, social development, poverty reduction and social security”.
Commending Honourable Oyintiloye for sponsoring four private-member bills, he said “this has portrayed the State Assembly as one that is also working towards making meaningful contributions to the development of the state”.
“I want to assure you that the House will give diligent attention to the bills.”
On why he proposed the bill, Honourable Oyintiloye from Obokun Constituency said passion for the elderly, people with disability and special people moved him to propose the bills.
“The elderly and physically challenged people and the special people have been neglected for too long and they need to be made to belong to the society. Let’s show them that we care,” he stressed.