Insecurity: Oyo Assembly cancels 3rd anniversary celebrations

The Oyo State House of Assembly has cancelled plans to hold elaborate activities for its third anniversary due to growing security concerns in the state.

The Assembly announced this on Thursday during plenary, citing the worsening security situation in the Oke-Ogun and Ogbomoso areas as the major reason for cancelling the celebration.

The lawmakers, rather than proceed with festivities, chose to shift focus to governance and ongoing efforts to address security challenges affecting residents.

DAILY POST reports that the 10th Oyo Assembly was inaugurated on June 14, 2023 and the anniversary would have marked three years of legislative activities.

Speaker of the House, Adebo Ogundoyin, said the decision was taken after careful consideration of recent events in the state, stressing that the Assembly felt it was important to stand with communities currently facing security threats.

Ogundoyin stated that the period was not suitable for celebrations, especially as many residents in affected areas continue to grapple with safety concerns, adding that the Assembly remains committed to its legislative responsibilities despite the security challenges facing the state.

“Thirty-six bills have been passed into law, covering various sectors of governance and development.

“We passed 276 resolutions, which were transmitted to the executive arm and other relevant government institutions for implementation.

“The resolutions are being monitored through the oversight activities of various committees to ensure compliance and effectiveness,” he said.

According to the Speaker, the House has continued to strengthen governance through oversight and accountability measures.

He disclosed that the Post Legislative Scrutiny Unit carried out reviews into the implementation of key laws in the state, including the Open Rearing and Grazing Regulation Law of 2019 and the Oyo State Security Agency Law of 2020.

The Speaker further said that these reviews were necessary to assess how effectively the laws have been implemented and whether they are achieving their intended objectives.

Ogundoyin also highlighted the Assembly’s intervention in tackling insecurity through dialogue and stakeholder engagement.

He pointed to the security summit organised by the legislature as one of its major responses to the persistent security concerns across parts of the state.