In a significant move to strengthen law enforcement, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has enacted a new executive bill, establishing the State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority.
During the signing ceremony in Ibadan, the state’s capital, Governor Makinde emphasized that the new body is expected to expedite the process of bringing justice to offenders within the state.
The governor highlighted that the bill was introduced to the House of Assembly to address the shortcomings in the enforcement of existing laws, particularly those related to traffic control, environmental cleanliness, and other civic matters.
Governor Makinde acknowledged the challenges faced in law enforcement, often exacerbated by insufficient collaboration between state and federal agencies.
“We have been here for over four years and we have seen that we do have adequate laws to deal with the aspect of protecting the environment, traffic laws, and road transport management authority.
“We also signed the anti-open grazing law but some of these we have not been able to enforce, maybe, because we have not had full cooperation from the law enforcement agencies.
“But we have to keep striving for the kind of state that we are all comfortable with and we have been dreaming about.
“So, this is the basis for sending the executive bill to the state assembly.
“I have had to deal with people driving against traffic, leading to accidents causing maiming, even death. We have had several instances of deaths.
“We have had to deal with street trading. People have also turned the median of our roads to dump sites.
“We have been saying these things must stop and in reality, they must stop. So, what this law is going to do is to allow quick dispensation of justice for the law breakers.
“That is why with the signing of this law, we will put everything in place to give a bite to the people that will run this authority,” he said.
The governor also announced the appointment of Retired Justice Aderonke Aderemi as the chairperson of the new enforcement agency immediately after signing the bill.
Governor Makinde assured full governmental support for the authority to ensure its success and revealed plans for the establishment of mobile courts throughout the state to prosecute violations at any time.
In addition to enforcement, the governor stressed the importance of public advocacy and called for the cooperation of all residents to realize the vision of an ideal Oyo State.
The Deputy Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Abiodun Fadeyi, who presented the approved bill to the governor, commended the thoroughness of the legislative process and the involvement of relevant ministries in the bill’s passage.
