The Osun State House of Assembly has commenced consideration of a bill seeking to establish a Park Management System to regulate the operations of motor parks and garages across the state.
The Osun State Park Management System Bill was presented for debate during Monday’s plenary by the Chairman of the House Committee on Works and Transport, Abiola Waheed, who is also the sponsor of the private member’s bill.
Waheed said the proposed legislation would provide a structured framework for the management of motor parks, regulate revenue collection and block leakages in the state’s internally generated revenue.
He added that the bill would also prohibit thuggery and other violent activities in motor parks, while introducing a digitalised ticketing system to improve accountability and promote orderliness and safety.
“The bill would regulate revenue collection and block leakages in the state’s internally generated revenue. It will also prohibit thuggery and other violent activities in motor parks across the state if passed into law,” Waheed said.
Contributing to the debate, lawmakers said the proposed legislation would strengthen accountability in motor park operations, increase government revenue and protect drivers and passengers from alleged extortion.
They also maintained that the bill would enhance the safety of lives and property while providing a more organised system for managing parks and garages across the state.
The Speaker of the House, Adewale Egbedun, said the proposed law would bring several benefits to Osun State.
“With all these submissions, a series of benefits will be derived from the passage of the bill,” Egbedun said.
The bill subsequently scaled second reading during Monday’s plenary and was referred for further legislative consideration.
The development comes days after Governor Ademola Adeleke directed the immediate vacation of motor parks by warring groups following a violent dispute over the control of a park.
The directive followed the killing of the Ajagungbade Emir, which was allegedly linked to a tussle over the leadership and control of a motor park.
In a statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke directed the Commissioner of Police in the state to arrest those allegedly involved in the killing and ensure that anyone found culpable was brought to justice.
“The governor charged the Commissioner of Police to act immediately to arrest all those involved. Law and order must be maintained. There will be no sacred cows as all culprits will be brought to book,” the statement said.
Adeleke also directed security agencies to restore normalcy in affected motor parks and maintain law and order across the state.
The governor subsequently announced plans to reintroduce the Park Management System as part of measures to restore discipline and prevent further clashes in motor parks and garages.
“We are reintroducing the Park Management System. I will soon issue an executive order to give effect to the new management system to manage parks and garages across the state,” Adeleke said.
With the bill now before the House, the proposed Park Management System is set to move from an executive directive towards a legislative framework that could formally establish the structure and powers for managing motor parks and garages across Osun State.