Osun Assembly Proposes Bill To Regulate Park Management
The Osun State House of Assembly has proposed a bill to establish a Park Management System aimed at ensuring orderliness and safety in motor parks across the state.
The proposed Osun State Park Management System Bill was presented during Monday’s plenary by the Chairman of the House Committee on Works and Transport, Abiola Waheed, who is also the sponsor of the private member’s bill.
Waheed said the bill sought to establish a structured management system for motor parks across the state, adding that it would regulate revenue collection and block leakages in the state’s internally generated revenue.
According to him, the proposed legislation would also prohibit thuggery and other violent activities in motor parks if passed into law.
He added that it would facilitate the digitalisation of the ticketing system while promoting orderliness and safety.
“The bill would regulate revenue collection and block leakages in the state’s internally generated revenue. It will also prohibit thuggery and other violent activities in motor parks across the state if passed into law,” Waheed said.
Contributing to the debate, lawmakers said the bill would boost the state’s revenue and address leakages in its internally generated revenue. They added that the proposed legislation would promote accountability in motor park operations and enhance the safety of lives and property.
The lawmakers also said the bill would protect drivers and passengers from extortion, urging its speedy passage to facilitate the development of the state.
The Speaker of the House, Adewale Egbedun, said the passage of the bill would bring several benefits to the state.
“With all these submissions, a series of benefits will be derived from the passage of the bill,” Egbedun said.
The Osun State Park Management System Bill subsequently scaled second reading during Monday’s plenary.
The move followed Governor Ademola Adeleke’s earlier directive for the immediate vacation of motor parks by warring groups and his announcement that the Park Management System would be reintroduced as part of measures to restore order and prevent further violence.
The governor issued the directives while responding to the killing of the Ajagungbade Emir, which allegedly resulted from a tussle over the leadership and control of a motor park.
In a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke directed the Commissioner of Police in the state to immediately arrest those allegedly involved in the killing and ensure that those responsible were brought to justice.
“The governor charged the Commissioner of Police to act immediately to arrest all those involved. Law and order must be maintained. There will be no sacred cows as all culprits will be brought to book,” the statement said.
Adeleke also directed security agencies to restore normalcy in the affected motor parks and ensure the maintenance of law and order across the state.
“We call on members of the public to remain calm. We will ensure restoration of peace in all the affected parks and areas. The security agencies are under instruction to ensure the sustainability of peace at all cost,” he said.
Beyond the police investigation, the governor ordered the immediate establishment of a Park Management System as part of measures to address disputes and restore discipline in motor parks and garages across Osun.
According to the statement, Adeleke said he would issue an Executive Order to formally establish the new management structure.
“We are reintroducing the Park Management System. I will soon issue an executive order to give effect to the new management system to manage parks and garages across the state”, the governor noted in the statement.
The governor’s directive requires warring groups to vacate affected motor parks while security agencies work to restore calm and prevent further clashes.
The administration said the reintroduction of the system was aimed at restoring discipline and orderliness in motor parks across the state, particularly against the backdrop of disputes over the control and leadership of parks.
With the bill now before the House of Assembly, the proposed Park Management System is moving from an executive directive towards a legislative framework.
The consideration of the bill could provide the legal basis for the management of parks and garages and define the structure through which the state intends to regulate activities at the facilities.
