Gov Makinde signs environmental, road traffic law enforcement bill

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde signed into law the Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority Bill on Friday.

The Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority is created to ensure enforcement of the provisions of Oyo State laws relating to health and environmental standards, asset management/maintenance, road traffic safety and maintenance.

The authority is also created to ensure enforcement of environmental protection agency laws, environmental sanitation and waste control regulations, road traffic laws, the state open rearing and grazing regulation law, and road traffic management authority law.

The signing, held at the governor’s office in the state secretariat, Ibadan, was attended by the deputy governor, Bayo Lawal; the deputy speaker, Honourable Abiodun Fadeyi; the secretary to the state government, Professor Adenike Adeyemo; and several commissioners.

The event saw Justice Aderonke Aderemi (retd.) announced as chairperson of the authority.

Highlighting the importance of the new law, Makinde said, “I have just signed into law the bill passed by the House for the establishment of the Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority.

We have not been able to fully enforce some of the laws we have made, either because we have not had cooperation from the law enforcement agencies regarding issues between state agencies and federal agencies.

What this law is going to do is to allow quick dispensation of justice for the lawbreakers. With the signing of the law, we will put everything in place to give a bite to the people that will run this authority.

If you are caught doing the wrong thing or contravening this law, you will face court immediately.” He stressed the significance of maintaining a clean environment, curbing street trading, and obeying traffic laws to foster an investor-friendly atmosphere.

Among other responsibilities, the newly established authority is to devise strategies to aid enforcement of and compliance with environmental standards and traffic laws in the state, collect data on and maintain databases on infractions of traffic and environmental laws.

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The law also empowers the authority to coordinate, monitor, and evaluate the activities and performance of environmental protection tribunals or mobile courts set up under any law of Oyo State to ensure that matters brought before the mobile courts and tribunals are handled diligently and appropriate sanctions are issued as necessary and permitted under the relevant laws.

Furthermore, the authority is given power to facilitate the equipment and furnishing of environmental tribunals or mobile courts, monitor the performance of any contractor and consultant engaged by the government for waste disposal, and make reports on their performances.

Additionally, the authority can make recommendations to the government on the engagement and termination of any consultants or contractors on matters relating to the environment and road traffic, as well as advise the government on the use of cutting-edge technology to resolve traffic and environmental challenges in the state.