Ogun Assembly Wants Abiodun To Appoint New Environment Commissioner

Ogun State House of Assembly has expressed concern over the non-appointment of a substantive Commissioner for Environment, to replace the erstwhile Commissioner, Abiodun Abudu-Balogun who was sacked for alleged sexual assault of an under aged girl 

The lawmakers during their plenary on Thursday in Abeokuta, appealed to Governor Dapo Abiodun to replace him, for proper coordination of  the role of the State Ministry of Environment at ensuring a cleaner, healthier, safe and sustainable environment

 

The Speaker of the house, Right Honourable Olakunle Oluomo, made the apppeal while responding to the submission of a member representing Yewa North II and the Chairman, House Committee on Environment, Wahab Haruna, who intimated the Assembly on the need to fill the vacuum created by the absence of a political head for the Ministry

The non-appointment  of substantive Commissioner according to him, has been affecting some of the programmes, performances and output of the Ministry 

Oluomo who clarified that the appointment of political office holders remained the prerogative of the State Governor, however stressed the need to the swiftly move to ensure the promotion of safe and healthy environment, 

He said that there was need for the appointment of a new State Commissioner to take charge of the Ministry.

Such appointment, the Speaker added would allow for a more robust coordination and administration of the Ministry towards harnessing all strategies in tackling all environmental hazards including flash flood alert which had since been issued by Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET).

Oluomo called for an improved effort and synergy amongst related agencies handling environmental issues to reduce the adverse effects of the perennial flooding in some parts of the State 

He equally admonished residents to adopt an attitudinal change by not dumping refuse in drainage channels or erecting structures on water ways, just as he urged those living on plain level prone to flooding to relocate in line with NIMET advice.

Earlier, Haruna stated that the Ministry which had been without a Commissioner for about six months required a substantive Commissioner to achieve optimum performance.

Edu-Biznews observed that the ministry is facing serious challenge in the aspect of proper management of waste, particularly in Abeokuta, the state capital, as residents are now dumping refuse by the sides of most of the major roads in the city