The Oyo State House of Assembly has passed the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Response Team And Referral Centre Bill, 2020 and two other bills into laws.
The two other bills passed by the lawmakers are Hotel Occupancy and Restaurant Consumption Tax Bill, 2021 and Oyo State Audit Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2021.
The bills, which were passed after the clause by clause consideration by the lawmakers round up the activities of the lawmakers for the year 202 as the House adjourned till January 18, 2022.
In her report, the Chairman House Committee on Women Affairs, Hon. Bimbo Oladeji representing Ogbomoso North state constituency, said that the bill, Oyo State Gender-Based Violence Response Team and Referral Centre Bill, 2020 is another milestone in the effort to put an end to all forms of violence in the state.
According to the lawmaker, who is the Chairperson, Committee on Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, disclosed that the Response Team and the Referral Centre will help to coordinate activities and programs aimed at addressing gender-based violence in the state.
Presenting the Committee report on the Hotel Occupancy and Restaurant Consumption Tax Bill, Hon. Isiaka Kazeem from Oyo East/West constituency, noted that the bill would help in increasing the Internally Generated Revenue base of the state.
Arole, as he is fondly called, said that the law when it becomes operational will Levy on consumption items being sold at various hospitality and relaxation centers across the state.
In his own report on the Oyo State Audit Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2021, the Chairman House Committee on Public Account, Finance and Appropriation, Hon Hakeem Mustapha, said that the bill is in line with the plan by the state government to make the Oyo State Audit Commission more functional.
Hon. Mustapha explained that the law was amended to ensure that Offices of the Auditors-General at both the state and local government levels are competitive and tenured.
Addressing the plenary, the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin, expressed that the three bills just passed had joined the growing list of bills passed by the 9th Oyo Assembly.
According to the Speaker, “we have surpassed past Assemblies in terms of passage of bills, motions and resolutions. We have over 70 bills and we are still counting. To God be the glory.”
He commended the Committees that worked on the three bills, saying that the reports were thorough and painstaking.
The Speaker used the medium to appreciate the lawmakers for their commitment in the outgoing year and urged them to make the new year better in terms of commitment, dedication and achievements.
