Delta State Occupational Safety Bill Passes Second Reading

By Augustine Akanigha

A bill to provide for public safety, detection and prevention of crime in public places and for other matters has passed second reading on the floor of the Delta State House of Assembly.

The Executive bill, entitled “Delta State Occupational Safety Bill” was read for the second time today at plenary.

The second reading was moved by the Majority Leader, Hon. Tim Owhefere and seconded by the Chief Whip Hon. Pat Ajudua.

Leading the debates on the floor of the House, Hon. Owhefere stated that the benefits of the proposed law to protect life and properties of Deltans were enormous saying it would further enhance security and sanity in public places which include shopping malls, eatries, cinemas, supermarkets, petrol/gas stations, private parks, event centres, hotels and public and private offices.

The majority leader added that the bill was seeking to establish a law to ensure that every public place had a record of activities taken place in such public places.

In his words, “From the commencement of this law, every owner or proprietor of any of the public places listed in the schedule to this law, shall procure and install the prescribed smart surveillance camera in such public places.”

He stressed that every footage taken by the camera can only be disclosed to security agencies, not to third party and can be admissible in a court of law as evidence.

According to Hon. Owhefere, clause 7 of the bill, addresses the offence and punishment which state: “It shall be unlawful and shall constitute an offence for any persons without authority to remove, destroy, redirect the position or temper with a camera installed or mounted in any public place, and such person shall on conviction be liable to imprisonment of two years or a fine of N1,000,000.00 (One million Naira) or both.

“Any owner or proprietor of a public place listed in the schedule to this law, who fails, refuses or neglets to procure or install the prescribed camera shall be guilty of an offence under this law and shall upon conviction be liable to imprisonment for a term of two years or a fine of N500,000.00 or both and the premises shall be liable to be sealed up until such owner or proprietor complies with the provisions of this law.”

The majority leader, enjoined all the lawmakers to support the bill and ensure the speedy passage to checkmate criminal activities and ensure security of lives and property in the state.

The Chief Whip of the House Hon. Pat Ajudua, the Deputy Chief Whip Hon. Solomon Ighrakpata and Hon. Anthony Elekeokwuri who rose in support of the bill explained that it would bring sanity to public places.

They said the bill was highly commendable in the sense that the film footage of any picture bordering on crime captured by the camera shall be an evidence and proof of commission of such crime or offence by the person captured therein unless the contrary was proved.

The lawmakers also expressed satisfaction that offences under the law would be tried at the magistrate court.