Osun Assembly directs SIEC to conduct referendum on proposed 27 LGs

The Osun State House of Assembly on Tuesday directed the State Independent Electoral Commission to conduct a referendum on the proposed creation of additional 27 Local Council Development Areas.
Hon. Najeem Salaam, the Speaker of the Assembly, gave the directive during plenary in Osogbo.
Governor Rauf Aregbesola had on December 16, 2013 presented a bill to the House for the creation of the councils.
The bill, which had scaled through second reading, would increase the number of local governments and local council development areas to 57 if passed into law.
Salaam also directed the House Committee on Local Government to visit the proposed headquarters of the council areas.
He said the reports of the House Committee and that of the referendum would be considered in the final passage of the Local Government Creation and Administration Bill pending before the Assembly.
Similarly, the OSIEC Amended Bill 2014 was also passed by the Assembly.
The amendment, which was Clause 2, Section 10(5) of the bill, sought the creation of the office of an Executive Secretary as the administrative head of the commission.
Presenting the policy thrust of the bill, the Leader of the House, Hon. Timothy Owoeye, explained that the bill would give the executive secretary the power to hold forth in the absence of members of the commission, who are mainly political appointees.
In their separate submissions, members of the House called for the speedy passage of the bill.
They said the executive secretary, who will be a civil servant, would ensure continuity and smooth running of the commission.
In his remarks, the speaker noted that passage of the amendment bill would allow for synergy between members of the commission, who are mainly political appointees, and civil servants.
He said the position of the executive secretary would also bring about checks and balances in the activities of the commission.
The State Hotels and other Tourism Industry Enterprises Licencing Authority Bill 2014 also scaled through first reading