Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun has officially informed the State House of Assembly of his intention to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill on Friday, November 29, 2024, at 10:00 a.m.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, conveyed the governor’s message during Tuesday’s plenary session at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
While reading the letter, the Speaker acknowledged the continuous cooperation between the executive and legislative arms in the state.
Abiodun in the letter, stated: “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 10:00 a.m.”
However, in a related development, the Ogun State House of Assembly passed a resolution urging the state government to develop a comprehensive and inter-ministerial strategy to combat the escalating issues of drug abuse, illicit trafficking, and addiction among youth and adults in the state.
In his opening debate, the Assembly Majority Leader Hon. Sheriff Yusuf, representing Ado-Odo/Ota I State Constituency, described the rise in drug-related activities as alarming.
He emphasized the devastating impacts of drug misuse on society, stating:
“Drug misuse, illicit trafficking, and the consumption of dangerous narcotics and psychotropic substances pose serious social, economic, and health hazards, particularly to the youth and vulnerable populations.”
Hon. Yusuf further highlighted how secondary schools, motor parks, garages, and communities have become hotspots for drug-related activities in Ogun State. Citing troubling statistics from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), he called for an urgent, robust response to curb the menace.
“The scourge of drug addiction has devastating consequences on individuals, families, and communities, leading to increased crime rates, mental health challenges, and loss of productivity in the state,” Yusuf stated.
While other lawmakers, including Minority Leader Hon. Lukman Adeleye and Honourables Adegoke Adeyanju, Adebisi Oyedele, and Yusuf Amosun, supported the call. They lamented the high prevalence of drug abuse and trafficking in the state and advocated collaboration with relevant agencies to conduct raids in hotels and nightclubs to address the problem.
The Assembly’s resolution urged the state government to adopt a comprehensive approach involving multiple ministries and agencies to mitigate the socio-economic and health impacts of drug abuse.
