The Delta State bill for Prevention, Prohibition of Destruction and Vandalism of Public Properties and Assets Bill, 2024, has scaled second reading on the floor of the State House of Assembly.
The bill which was read the second time during Wednesday’s plenary session of the House presided over by the Speaker, Rt Hon Emomotimi Dennis Guwor has the Member representing Okpe State Constituency and Chairman Assembly Committee on Public Accounts, Hon (Chief) James Augoye as lead sponsor.
It also has 19 co-sponsors.
The bill according to Hon Augoye who led debate on its merits, seeks to criminalize the acts of vandalizing public properties across all sectors in the State.
Augoye, a former Commissioner for Works in the state, hinted that the bill was informed by his ugly experiences as a member of the Delta State Executive Council where he presided over the Ministry of Works for more than six years.
The lawmaker disclosed that there were several deliberate acts of destruction of public properties across the state by miscreants.
He noted that the way to checkmate the ugly trend is to enact a law in the state for arrest and prosecution of people caught in the act of destruction of public properties.
“Dear colleagues, let me begin by telling you that this bill before us today is borne out of my experience as Commissioner for Works in the state where, during my tours across the various local government areas of the state, saw how public properties were destroyed by some miscreants.
“More worrisome is the fact that most of those destructions were carried out by service providers who brazenly cut some sections of our road and pipes”, Augoye stated.
Continuing he said, “There are yet some situations where some persons would pour raw acid on road thereby causing artificial potholes.
“In my local government for instance, at Ugbokodo Secondary School, a three block of classroom was set ablaze by some youths who were said to be hunting rabbits
“The recent trend now is a situation where electric wires in some public buildings were being vandalized, burnt and sold as well as those done on our bridges. The list of these vandalism is endless”, the Lawmaker stated.
Hon Augoye, stressed further that the situation is condemnable and unacceptable, noting that there was the need for a legal framework with all the necessary provisions and backing in order to protect public properties in the State.
He pointed out that the bill which is made up of six parts and fifty-three clauses, clearly spells out penalties for any offender.
“My dear colleagues, let us owe this bill, protect it as it will in turn protect our collective assets. We need legal instrument to curb the menace of vandalism of public properties”, Hon Augoye stressed.
Other lawmakers, including the Majority Leader, Hon Emeka Nwaobi, Chief Whip, Perkins Umukoro, member representing, Bomadi, Oboro Preyor, Ika North East, Marylyn Okowa-Daramola, Burutu 2, Oloye Pereotu, Oshimili North, Frank Esenwah, Patani, Emmanuel Sinibe and Oshimili South, Bridget Anyafulu, described the proposed law as an important legislation for development of the state.
While calling on the speedy passage of the bill, the lawmakers maintained that acts of vandalism on public properties are detrimental to service delivery.
They said they were several advantages in the proposed law and commended the lead sponsor, Hon James Augoye for his sound presentation on the bill and all it intends to achieve in the state.
The Speaker, Rt Hon Emomotimi Guwor, who commended the quality debates on the bill, referred it to the House Committee on Rules, Business, Ethics and Privilege for further legislative actions.
He directed the committee to turn in the report in a fortnight.