Sign Ogun Sports Commission bill, experts tell Abiodun
Experts and stakeholders in sports industry have called on Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, to sign into law, State Sports Commission Bill, which was passed by the House of Assembly in 2019. The State House of Assembly, had in December, passed the State Sports Commission bill, 2019 and State Sports Trust Fund Bill, as part […]
Experts and stakeholders in sports industry have called on Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, to sign into law, State Sports Commission Bill, which was passed by the House of Assembly in 2019.
The State House of Assembly, had in December, passed the State Sports Commission bill, 2019 and State Sports Trust Fund Bill, as part of moves to further boost sporting activities and youth development in the State.
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Daily Trust recalls that stakeholders in sports including Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) in the state have severally expressed concern over the delay in the implementation of the legal frameworks.
They described it as an age-long dream that would aid the development of sports in the State, noting that the establishment of a commission and trust fund for administrative and financial autonomy to manage the sector would allow the state reclaim its enviable position among its peers in sports.
Speaking on Tuesday at the opening ceremony of the 2021 SWAN Week in Abeokuta, stakeholders reiterated the call on Governor Abiodun to sign Sports Commission Bill into law and set machinery in motion for the implementation.
A former Chairman of the House of Assembly Committee on Sports and Youth, Olufemi Allen-Taylor, particularly told sports reporters to mount pressure on the governor to ensure the sports commission see the light of the day.
He said “My major concern in Ogun State is about the Sports Commission and the Trust Fund. And my advice is that, the administrators at the Ministry of Sports and council cannot do it alone.
“But with your (sports writers) bombardment in all your platforms…please let us do that and help Ogun State. I know the listening governor will hear that and do justice to it.”
In a lecture entitled, “Quality Legislation Towards a Sustainable Sports Policy in Nigeria”, the Speaker of State House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo, said lack of implementation of the existing laws remains a challenge to achieve the desired results in the sports sector.
Oluomo, who was represented by a veteran sports journalist, Kola Ishola, reaffirmed the commitment of the 9th assembly to quality legislation that would enhance sports development in the state.
He said that all hands must be on deck to ensure sports development in the state and the country at large.
The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Waheed Odusile, assured sports writers that the governor would sign the bill into law.
Odusile, who was Chairman of the occasion, acknowledged the importance of sports towards building a virile society, stressing that the business of sports development should not be shouldered on government alone.
He encouraged the leadership of the association in the state to give priority to the capacity building of members apart from organising competitions.
The Chairman, SWAN, Ogun Chapter, Alhaji Hakeem Akintunde, had noted that appropriate legislation would enable the younger generation to participate in sports without fear.
Akintunde gave the assurance that the association would not relent in its efforts to ensure the development of sports in the state through regular interaction with stakeholders in the sector.