Delta State Bill to Criminalize Vandalism of Public Properties Scales Second Reading
ASABA/Nigeria: The Delta State Prevention and Prohibition of Destruction and Vandalization of Public Properties and Assets Bill, 2024, has successfully passed its second reading in the State House of Assembly.
The bill, led by Hon. (Chief) James Augoye, Member representing Okpe State Constituency and Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Public Accounts, received widespread support during Wednesday’s plenary session, presided over by Speaker Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Dennis Guwor.
With 19 co-sponsors, the bill seeks to criminalize the vandalization of public properties across all sectors in Delta State. Hon. Augoye, who previously served as the Commissioner for Works, explained that his motivation for sponsoring the bill stemmed from his experiences while overseeing the Ministry of Works, where he witnessed extensive damage to public assets.
During the debate, Hon. Augoye lamented the deliberate destruction of public properties by miscreants for selfish reasons. “During my tenure as Commissioner for Works, I saw firsthand the reckless destruction of public assets, from roads and pipelines to school buildings,” he said.
“Some service providers even cut sections of our roads, while others poured raw acid on the road, creating artificial potholes. This act of vandalism is intolerable, and it must be stopped.”
The lawmaker further cited instances of public buildings being set ablaze and electric wires being stolen or burned, emphasizing the urgency of enacting a law to curb these destructive acts. He specifically mentioned an incident at Ugbokodo Secondary School, where a three-block classroom building was set on fire by youths under the guise of hunting rabbits.
Hon. Augoye stressed that the bill, which contains six parts and 53 clauses, clearly outlines penalties for offenders. He urged his colleagues to support the legislation, stating, “We need a legal framework to protect our collective assets. This bill will serve as a crucial tool in safeguarding public properties across the state.”
The Majority Leader, Hon. Emeka Nwaobi, alongside other lawmakers, including Chief Whip Perkins Umukoro, Hon. Oboro Preyor, and Hon. Marylyn Okowa-Daramola, expressed their support for the bill. They described it as timely and essential for the development of the state, noting that vandalism severely hampers service delivery.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, commended the quality of the debates and referred the bill to the House Committee on Rules, Business, Ethics, and Privileges for further legislative review. He directed the committee to submit its report within two weeks, signaling the assembly’s commitment to advancing the bill swiftly.
Lawmakers emphasized the importance of protecting public infrastructure and applauded Hon. Augoye for his thorough presentation and dedication to addressing this critical issue.
