Ondo Assembly Passes Bills to Strengthen Law Commission, Public Defender’s Office
By Oyeniwa Elizabeth
The Ondo State House of Assembly has passed two bills aimed at tightening the administration of justice and improving efficiency in the state’s legal system.
During Tuesday’s plenary, presided over by Speaker Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji, lawmakers gave final approval to the Bill to amend the Ondo State Law Commission Law, 2001, and the Bill to amend the Ondo State Office of the Public Defender Law, 2004. Both bills scaled third reading after completing legislative scrutiny and public hearings.
The bills were earlier referred to the Committee on Judiciary, Public Petitions, Ethics and Privileges, which engaged stakeholders to gather input before presenting its report.
Presenting the committee’s report on the Law Commission bill, Chairman Hon. Stephen Abitogun said the amendment seeks to cut bureaucratic bottlenecks and end interference from non-legal officers in other MDAs who operate outside the Attorney-General’s chamber.
He explained that the changes would speed up decision-making, boost the morale of legal officers in the Attorney-General’s office, and guarantee clearer career paths.
Under the amendment, the Governor will appoint a Permanent Secretary for the Commission from among the most senior legal officers in the Directorate cadre of the Attorney-General’s office. The Permanent Secretary will act as the accounting officer, controlling and disbursing the Commission’s funds, with capital expenditure subject to prior approval by the Commission.
The law also empowers the Permanent Secretary to prepare annual recurrent and capital expenditure estimates, subject to approval by the Commission and the State Executive Council through the Attorney-General.
On the Public Defender bill, Hon. Abitogun said the amendment mirrors the push for efficiency and career fulfillment for legal officers serving in the Attorney-General’s chamber. It also bars interference from lawyers in other MDAs who are not part of the Attorney-General’s office.
A key change replaces the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice on the Governing Board with the Permanent Secretary of the Office of the Public Defender.
The amendment provides for the appointment of a Permanent Secretary from the Directorate cadre of the Attorney-General’s office. The officer will serve as accounting officer and oversee day-to-day administration under the direction of the Board. Only officers who have attained the Directorate cadre in the Attorney-General’s office will be eligible for the role.
After the passage, Speaker Oladiji, Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Ololade Gbegudu, Majority Leader Hon. Olatunji Oshati, and other lawmakers said the new laws would strengthen professionalism, improve service delivery, and reinforce public confidence in the justice system.
They commended Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for his political will, praised the Judiciary Committee for its diligence, and thanked legal practitioners and stakeholders who contributed during the public hearing process.
Also, A Bill for a Law to enact the Ondo State Taxes and Levies (Approved List for Collection) Law, 2025, scaled first reading. The bill seeks to regulate the collection of taxes and levies by the state government.
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