Ondo Assembly Commits Four Bills to Committees Stage, Adopts Career Reconstruction Report
By Oyeniwa Elizabeth
The Ondo State House of Assembly moved forward on four significant bills and approved a comprehensive set of reforms aimed at restoring fairness and transparency to career adjustment processes within the Assembly service during Tuesday’s plenary.
The session, presided over by Speaker Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji, saw lawmakers pass the bills through second reading before referring each one to the standing committee most relevant to its subject matter for detailed scrutiny.
The move signals the Assembly’s intent to strengthen both its legislative agenda and internal administrative standards ahead of the second half of the legislative year.
Two of the bills focus on strengthening the state’s legal support system. The first seeks to amend the Ondo State Law Commission Law of 2001, while the second proposes amendments to the Office of the Public Defender Law of 2004. Both were committed to the House Committee on Judiciary and Public Petitions.
The third bill aims to repeal the Ondo State Haulage Fees Law of 2020, was committed to Committee on Commerce and Industry.
The fourth bill seeks to amend the Local Government Law of 2007 and address other connected matters affecting local governance in the state. It was committed to the Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
House Leader Hon. Olatunji Oshati moved the motions for second reading and referral. The motions were seconded by Hon. Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, Hon. Dr. Chris Ogunlana, Hon. Oluwarotimi Abitogun, and Hon. Nelson Akinsuroju, reflecting broad support across party lines.
In a separate but equally consequential decision, the House adopted the report of the Ad-hoc Committee on Career Adjustment and Reconstruction, presented by Committee Chairman Hon. Stephen Abitogun.
The committee was set up to investigate complaints and inconsistencies in how career reconstruction and adjustment requests have been handled for staff of the House of Assembly Service Commission. Over several weeks, members reviewed petitions, service records, and existing public service rules.
Presenting the findings, Hon. Abitogun said the goal was to create a system that is fair, transparent, and consistent with established civil service regulations.
The report recommended that the House of Assembly Service Commission strictly enforce public service rules governing applications, official communications, and administrative procedures. It emphasized that timelines set in circulars and service rules must be followed, except where there is verifiable evidence that a request was submitted before such rules took effect.
To eliminate bias and favoritism, the committee called for a single, uniform framework for processing all career reconstruction requests. It also stressed the need for proper documentation and record-keeping of all personnel matters, in line with public service standards.
On inter-cadre transfers, the committee said such movements must comply strictly with rules on grade level adjustments and seniority. It recommended an immediate end to the practice of backdating conversions or promotions where it conflicts with service rules and disadvantages other officers.
The report further urged management to sensitize officers on their rights and obligations under the public service rules, including the need to exhaust internal administrative remedies before seeking external redress. It also called for a review of past cases to identify and correct injustices, ensuring fair treatment for all affected officers.
Additionally, the committee asked the Office of Establishments and the Civil Service Commission to provide clear guidance on cadre equivalencies, to ensure that transferred officers are placed correctly under existing appointment and transfer rules.
After deliberation, lawmakers adopted the recommendations through a voice vote. Several members described the move as a necessary step to restore confidence among staff and ensure that promotions and career adjustments are based on merit and due process.
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