The Ondo House of Assembly has received a constitutional amendment proposal seeking the establishment of state police for consideration and debate by lawmakers.
The proposal was conveyed to the Assembly in a letter from the Clerk to the National Assembly, Mr Kamoru Ogunlana, which was read on the floor by the Speaker, Chief Olamide Oladiji, on Thursday.
Oladiji said the proposal would be critically examined by the lawmakers when majority members of the Assembly were present.
The speaker’s position followed the communication from the national assembly requesting state houses of assembly to consider the proposed constitutional amendment on the establishment of state police.
Newsextra24 reports that this is part of ongoing constitutional amendment considerations on policing and security architecture in the country.
In a related development, the Assembly committed the N60.99 billion 2026 budget proposal of the Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC) to its committees on OSOPADEC and Finance and Appropriation for detailed scrutiny.
The proposed budget comprises N7,514,259,669 for recurrent expenditure and N53,479,318,969 for capital expenditure.
The motion for the referral was moved by the Leader of the Assembly, Mr Olatunji Oshati, and seconded by Mr Kolawole Ologede.
Speaking on the proposal, the Chairman of the House Committee on OSOPADEC, Mr Allen Oluwatoyin, said its consideration was important given the number of development projects planned for riverine communities under the commission’s mandate.
Allen listed some of the proposed projects to include the construction of Atijere Road, Coastal Road and Igbonla Road in Ilaje, as well as Temidire and Peace Avenue roads in Ese-Odo Local Government Area.
He said the budget also provided for the construction and renovation of schools in the affected communities and agricultural interventions aimed at supporting food security and improving security in the areas.
Allen urged members of the committees to give the proposal the necessary consideration to enable OSOPADEC implement the projects and programmes captured in the budget.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Mr Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, said the proposed expenditure would address critical infrastructure and other developmental needs in the affected communities.
Ogunmolasuyi said effective implementation of the budget would improve the living standards of residents, particularly those living in communities within OSOPADEC’s mandate area.
He urged members of the two committees to work together to ensure expeditious consideration of the proposal.
The speaker directed the committees to conclude their scrutiny and report back to the Assembly on or before Sept. 28 to facilitate further legislative consideration.
