The Ogun State House of Assembly has acknowledged a correspondence from the State Governor, Dapo Abiodun indicating his intention to present the Year 2025 Appropriation bill before the State lawmakers on Friday 29th November at 10.00am.
The Speaker, Oludaisi Elemide, stated this while reading the Governor’s letter before the state lawmakers during the plenary at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta on Tuesday.
The letter reads, “I thank Mr Speaker and the Honourable members of the Ogun State House of Assembly, for the full cooperation we have continued to enjoy from the Hallowed Chambers. Your legislative support has indeed been pivotal to the success story of our building the future together.
” In accordance with the provision of Section 121 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as altered), I write to inform the Honourable House that I intend to present the Ogun State Year 2025 budget proposal to the State House of Assembly on Friday, 29th November, 2024 at 10.00am”.
Meanwhile, the Assembly has passed a resolution calling on the State Government to urgently develop a comprehensive and inter-ministerial drug abuse control strategy to address the rising menace of drug abuse, illicit drug trafficking and addiction among youth and adults in the state.
Opening debate on the bill, the Sponsor, who is also the Assembly Majority Leader, Sheriff Yusuf representing Ado-Odo/ Ota I State Constituency, explained that the Assembly recognized the alarming increase in drug abuse in the Nation.
He said drug misuse, illicit drug trafficking and the consumption of dangerous narcotics, psychotropic substances, and mind-altering drugs, posed serious social, economic and health hazards to the well-being of the residents of the State, particularly among the youth and adults.
He said, “It has been observed that secondary schools, motor parks, garages and even communities across Ogun State have become hotbeds of drug-related activities, putting the younger generation and the vulnerable population at risk; the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other relevant authorities have continued to release troubling statistics on the prevalence of drug abuse in Ogun State, signalling an urgent need for a robust and concerted response”.
According to him, the scourge of drug addiction has had devastating consequences on individuals, families, and communities, leading to increased crime rates, mental health challenges, and loss of productivity in the State.
He called on the State Government to develop a comprehensive, inter-ministerial drug abuse control strategy to address the social, economic, and health impacts of drug abuse, illicit trafficking and addiction in the state.
Other members who corroborated the sponsor, included Minority Leader Lukman Adeleye, Honourables Adegoke Adeyanju, Adebisi Oyedele and Yusuf Amosun, lamented the high rate of drug abuse and trafficking, seeking collaboration with relevant agencies in raiding hotels and nightclubs to rid the State of drug abuse.
Gov Abiodun to present 2025 budget to Ogun assembly on Friday