By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

Ogun State House of Assembly has passed a resolution calling on the State Government to prevail on the security agencies to clamp down on the activities of cultists across the State and the need to appoint Commissioner for Youth in the State, with a view to driving policies and programmes that would aid youth engagements so as to address the menace of cult clashes.

The passage of the resolution followed a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Yusuf Sherif and seconded by the Minority Leader, Lukman Adeleye, shortly after the lawmakers debated on the escalating violence of cult clashes in the State.

Opening debate on the motion leading to the passage of the resolution, the sponsor Hon. Adebisi Oyedele, noted that the House observed with serious concern the disturbing trend of incessant cult killings across the State, especially Abeokuta, which began approximately six weeks ago and that no fewer than 10 individual had lost their lives to cult-related violence within the last 42 days.

He stated further that, the rate at which lives were being lost in the State capital was indeed worrisome, saying incidents included the broad daylight shootings of five individuals at different locations within the State capital.

“Worried about the sporadic shooting at Kuto Garage, about five days ago creating civil unrest for dwellers which was traceable to a cult gang trying to hit another target.

Also worried that, the continuous killings among young people across the State are adversely affecting businesses and tarnishing the reputation of our dear State. Worthy of note is the recent intervention of the State Government, State Police Command of the Nigeria Police Force and the traditional rulers which have resulted into a calm environment in Sagamu axis”, he submitted.

Other lawmakers including Lukmon Atobatele, Adeyanju Adegoke and Adeleye Lukman noted that the activities of cult clash in the State needed to be addressed, especially through advocacy and orientation of the youth.

They remarked that there was need for the residents of the State to contribute to the security of the society through intelligence information to security operatives, adding that there was need for unhindered prosecution of criminals in the guise of cultism to serve as deterrent to others.

In his response, the Speaker decried the celebration of moral decadence in the society, explaining that such had led to the spread of crimes and criminalities amongst youth.

He implored the youth to persevere, imbibe nobility and be productive by engaging in lawful activities that could earn them decent of living.

Meanwhile, the lawmakers on Thursday began reading a bill seeking to establish the State Consumer Protection Agency, at the floor of the house.

The bill, when passed, is aim to protecting consumers’ interest, settlement of consumer disputes and as well get value for their resources.

Leading the debate on the bill, the sponsor and Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Lukman Adeleye, submitted that the bill was initiated to domesticate the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) in the State, towards entrenching the rights and privileges of consumers, thereby making producers of goods and services more responsible.

Adeleye added that the proposed law was meant to checkmate the sales of hazardous items, tackle consumer exploitation, regulate price and ensure that consumers seek legal redress, if not satisfied with the quality of goods and services rendered; noting that such would lessen economic hardship and burden on the consumers.

Other lawmakers also took turn to speak in favour of the bill titled: “State Consumer Protection Law, 2024” at a plenary presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide at a plenary held in the State Assembly, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

The members noted that the bill was a right step to protect the interest of consumers, whose wants and needs remained unlimited.

The lawmakers including Adebisi Oyedele, Babatunde Tella, Seun Adesanya and Adeyanju Adegoke, cited instances of sales of counterfeit products, which needed to be addressed headlong.

They commended the sponsor of the bill, describing it as a legislation that would bring sanity into commercial activities in the State, checkmating hazardous risk confronting consumers through adulterated products.

The lawmakers condemned sharp and unethical practices being witnessed at the moment, noting that the bill when operational, would assist consumers in seeking legal redress when good or services did not meet their expectations.

Responding, Speaker Elemide recalled the old memories of the proactive activities of the consumer regulation, market and price control board in the past which helped sanitize commercial activities and later charged the bill to the Committee on Industry, Trade and Investment for further legislative action.