Group cautions Amosun, angry with Ogun assembly over proposed water Bill

…Counsels Governor on public/government ties

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NIGERIA: A GROUP in Ogun State is not happy with the state House of Assembly over the way and manners public

hearing was conducted on the proposed bill to regulate the water sector, just as it cautioned the Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, against signing the bill into law.

The Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) said it felt displeased with how the lawmakers handled the hearing.

According to the body, the hearing procedure adopted by the assembly on the bill was nothing worthwhile other than a kangaroo arrangement.

It also said that the manner the bill was treated by the lawmakers, who are the representatives of the people, was anti-public.

Not only that, the group further said that the step taken by the lawmakers negates the social responsibility of government to its citizenry.

The anger of AUPCTRE was contained in a release signed by its Media Officer, Fatai Akinbola, which urged Amosun to exercise caution before appending his signature to the proposed bill.

The bill with number 45/09/2014 is meant to make provisions for the establishment of Ogun State Water sector, Ogun State Water Corporation, Ogun State Water Regulatory Commission and for other matters incidental thereto or connected therewith.

The group explained that if the private/public partnership venture is implemented, as being proposed, it would have adverse effect on the citizenry.

As an option, the group, therefore, advocated a public/government partnership approach as the best way forward to regulate water sector in the Gateway State.

Similarly, the group stated that even before the full implementation of the bill, relevant issues, which included funding, disbursement, accountability and monitoring method for the fund, needed to be adequately spelt out in details.