Honours Oyo Speaker, Hon. Oladeji

Following the domesticating, passage and assent of the Dog Laws in Oyo State, the Veterinary Council of Nigeria has commended the Oyo State House of Assembly.

The National President of the Council, Dr. Aishat Abubakar Baju, who is also the Assistant Inspector General of Police, led the delegation that paid a thank you visit to the state’s lawmakers for being sensitive to issues and happenings in their environment.

The delegation of the Council was received by the Speaker, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, Deputy Speaker, Hon. Abiodun Fadeyi, Hon. Wumi Oladeji and some other members of the House.

Dr. Abubakar Baju expressed that the purpose of the visit is to express the appreciation of the Council to the lawmakers for deeming it to review, amend and pass the Dog Laws for the benefit of the people and residents of the state. She said that the law is imperative in order to control and reduce the transmission of communicable diseases like Parvovirus, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis and Rabies especially from unvaccinated dogs.

While appreciating the state assembly for domesticating the Veterinary Practice Premises Committee, which she said is a federal law in Oyo State, Dr. Abubakar Baju, however, called the attention of the lawmakers to the oversight in the Laws, pointing out that the Chairman of the Veterinary Practice Premises Committee is supposed to be Director of Veterinary Services which is the requirement and not the Permanent Secretary as it is contained in the present laws.

She stated that the Council is the statutory body and federal agency that is saddled with the responsibility of regulating veterinary training and practice in Nigeria with focus on improving veterinary service delivery in Nigeria.

While stating that Oyo State has been selected as host state for the official flag-off of Veterinary Practice Premises Committee, Dr. Abubakar called for employment of more veterinary doctors and officers to be able to discharge their duties effectively.

The Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin in his remarks, disclosed that the law makes it 73  that the state’s assembly will be passed in the last two including those awaiting the third readings, which he said has surpassed the records of previous assemblies in the state.

Speaking on the importance of the laws, Hon. Ogundoyin expressed that the Oyo State Houseof Assembly always takes cognizance of happenings around whenever a bill is under consideration. He said that law enables every dog’s owner to get their dogs vaccinated in order to guard against life threatening diseases which may occur as a result of dog bite.

The Speaker also appealed to the Council to work with the Oyo State House of Assembly to address the grey areas in the composition of the committee members in the law as identified by the National President of the Council.

“We have set a good record and we’ll still set more records in the 9th Oyo State House of Assembly. Dogs Amendment Bill is one the Bills passed by us in two years and this has made us to surpass the records of the previous assemblies.

Hon Ogundoyin stated further that the Law would have a positive impact in the lives of the residents of Oyo State as it is aimed at protecting them from dog attacks, and also give adequate treatment and compensation to anyone bitten by dogs.

He expressed the readiness of the state assembly to work with other civil societies within the state to make our society a better place to live.

In her welcome address, Hon. Wumi Oladeji, who was the sponsor of the bill before it became law, commended the state governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, Speaker, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin and the entire lawmakers for the passage and signing of the bill into law without wasting time.

Hon. Oladeji revealed that the law was amended 20 years ago and several dog related incidents have been happening which were not covered in the bill warranted its amendment.

The lawmaker, who represents Ogbomoso North state constituency, charged the Veterinary Council of Nigeria to make awareness and sensitization programmes on the law a top priority.

She maintained that necessary amendments have been carried out and punishments for offenders have been reviewed to make the society a safe haven.

According to Hon Oladeji, “some of the provisions of the Law include a fine of #100,000 or six months imprisonment or both for any dog owner who fails to keep their dogs under control, a fine of #250,000 or imprisonment for six months or both for dog owners who fail to bear the total cost of medical expenses incurred by the victim of the attack.

“A fine of #200,000 or six months imprisonment or both for any dog owner who fails to vaccinate his/her dogs against communicable diseases hence we call on all the Stakeholders to sensitize members of the public on the provisions of the Amendment.”

Recall that, the Dogs Amendment Bill, 2019 was signed into law by Governor Seyi Makinde on the 22nd of September, 2020.

Highlight of the event was the presentation of Recognition Awards to the Speaker, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin and Hon. Wumi Oladeji for their efforts towards promotion of a safe society.