Petitions Stall Bill On New Councils In Osun

The bill, when passed, would raise the number of local government in the state to 57
The members of the Osun State House of Assembly on Monday deferred further consideration of the Local Government Creation and Administration Bill 2013 due to petitions.
The Speaker of the House, Najeem Salaam, disclosed this at the plenary in Osogbo.
Mr. Salaam said the bill would not be considered for second reading for now due to petitions from members of the public on the creation of additional local governments.
Governor Rauf Aregbesola had on December 16, 2013, presented a bill to the House for the creation of additional 27 local government areas in the state.
The bill scaled through its first reading on January 8.
Mr. Salaam said the technicalities and petitions arising from the bill would have to be resolved before considering it for the second reading.
“Due to the technicalities and petitions arising from the bill, it cannot be considered for the second reading for now.
“The second reading of the bill will lead us to presenting it to the committee of the whole House, which will lead to passage of the bill.
“But before that, there are some other assignments which we have to do before the consideration of the bill”, Mr. Salaam said.
The bill, when passed, would raise the number of local governments in the state to 57.
The bills seeking to amend the State University Development Fund and State Independent Electoral Commission were, however, read on the floor of the House.
OSUN DEFENDER