Criticism As Osun Assembly Proposes Establishment Of New Agency

The Osun State House of Assembly has proposed the establishment of an agency to be in charge of rural roads across the state.

According to the Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Adewale Egbedun, the bill which is an executive proposal named State-Wide Road Authority for Sustainable Development, seeks to create an authority for the sustainable development and management of Class C and Class D roads.

Egbedun, in a post on his Facebook account, noted that the bill aims to enhance connectivity and improve overall living standards for communities throughout the region.

He wrote: “Osun State House of Assembly, today deliberated on the Establishment of State-Wide Road Authority for Sustainable Development. 

“During the plenary session, Hon. Elisha Oderinwale, Chairman of the House Committee on Rural Development and Community Affairs, presented a report on the Osun State Urban & Rural Access Road Authority (Establishment) Bill, 2024. 

“The bill, an executive proposal, seeks to create an authority for the sustainable development and management of Class C and Class D roads in collaboration with local government areas, local council development areas, and area councils across Osun State.

“This initiative demonstrates the 8th Assembly’s commitment to fostering intergovernmental cooperation and promoting development for the benefit of the people of Osun State. By prioritizing rural and urban access roads, the proposed authority aims to enhance connectivity and improve overall living standards for communities throughout the region.

“The Osun State House of Assembly under my leadership will continue to work closely with other branches of government, ensuring that essential infrastructure projects are implemented effectively and efficiently. Through these efforts, the 8th Assembly remains dedicated to driving progress and prosperity for all citizens of Osun State.”

Reacting to the development, an entrepreneur, Dare Eluyemi, argued that existing agencies such as the  Osun Road Maintenance Agency could handle such project through proper restructuring, saying establishing a new agency in the current face of economic realities is not the best.

Eluyemi wrote: “Mr. Speaker, contrary to what you posted, this I feel one of the existing agencies such as Osun Road Maintenance Agency could handle through proper restructuring. 

“Establishing a new agency in the current face of our economic realities isn’t the best decision to manage government resources. This is an overlap of responsibilities. Local Government should be given autonomy and be financially equipped to manage their own roads. 

“I disagree with you establishing a new agency that would have another budgetary provision, new DG, new running cost while the existing agencies are also running same responsibilities. 

“Osun State Road Maintenance Agency is meant to handle state roads and the developmental activities around it while LG works departments which are expected to have Councillor for works and Super for works are meant to handle LG roads. I do not see the economic viability in the idea Mr Speaker. Kindly equip and restructure the existing structure”.