BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
Ahead of the November 27, 2022 hand-over of power by the All Progressives Congress led government in Osun State to the People’s Democratic Party, the State House of Assembly said it has commenced the process with the presentation of a bill tagged, “State of Osun Transition Bill 2022.”
The Speaker of the house, Timothy Owoeye, during plenary on Monday, presented a private member bill which he drafted and tagged: ‘State of Osun Transition Bill 2022’ as the bill would ensure smooth hand-over of power from Governor Gboyega Oyetola to the governor-elect, Ademola Adeleke.
The Bill which passed through its second reading is aimed at a seamless transition from one government to the other come November 27, 2022 when the state will have the governor-elect at the helm of affairs of the state.
Owoeye held that the novel bill when passed into law will allow for a comprehensive and practical arrangement to regulate, in accordance with the law, the transfer of political power following an election to the office of the Governor.
He said the bill would also ensure that Adeleke pays the retiring benefits and other entitlements of public office holders in the state without undue delay.
The Bill read in part, “The bill when passed into law will ensure the provision of daily state of the state briefing for the person elected as Governor during the period before the assumption of the office by the person elected as Governor.
“It will also ensure that salaries, allowances, facilities, privileges and the retiring benefits or awards as determined by the Public Service Rules which are due to the holders of respective political offices are paid or accorded to those persons without undue delay; and to undertake any other function which will enable the team to achieve the object of this bill.
“For the purposes of this Bill, the Team shall first meet not later than 14 days after the declaration of the result of the gubernatorial election.
“The decision of the team shall be arrived at by consensus, but where the member fails to agree on an issue, it shall be referred to the Advisory Council for the expedition determinations of the issue,” it read.
On the issue of the handing over notes, the bill stated that, “The office of the Governor shall prepare a set of comprehensive handing over notes covering the Team of the office of the Governor.”
