By Tolulope Eniola
The Ondo State House of Assembly has called for faster processing and issuance of Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) to facilitate ease of doing business and enable property owners to access financial opportunities.
The House also urged the State Ministry of Lands and Housing, Ondo State Property Development Corporation (OSDPC) and Ondo State Signage and Advertisement Agency (OSSAA) to strengthen their synergy with the legislature to enhance service delivery and address challenges affecting their operations.
The Committee on Lands and housing led by its Chairman Chief Abiola Oladapo, made the call during an oversight visit to the Ministry of Lands and Housing, OSDPC and OSSAA in Akure on Wednesday.
Oladapo, who represents Ondo West Constituency II, said the committee was at the agencies to monitor their activities and budget performance, identify challenges and determine areas where legislative intervention could be provided.
The particularly sought information on the factors responsible for delays in the processing of C of O, stressing that landowners needed the documents for investment purposes and to obtain loans and other financial facilities.
The Committee also directed the Ministry of Lands and Housing to furnish the committee with documents relating to its ongoing projects and contractors, adding that members would physically inspect some of the projects to ascertain their level of completion.
The Lawmakers said that the committee was prepared to support the ministry and other agencies through appropriate legislative measures, stressing that regular interaction between the agencies and the House would enable the house to understand their challenges and reflect them in their reports and budget considerations.
Reeling out the ministry’s activities on behalf of the Commissioner for Infrastructure, Lands and Housing, Engr. Ayorinde Abiola Olawoye, the Permanent Secretary, Lands and Housing, Mr Niyi Akinbola, said the ministry was responsible for land administration, construction of public buildings and upgrading and renovation of government facilities across the state.
Akinbola said several projects were ongoing at various stages, including the new High Court Complex at Alagbaka, 32 units of four-bedroom terrace buildings for cabinet members, the Ministry of Finance Office Complex, a two-storey office building for the Ondo State Public Complaints, Financial Crimes and Anti-Corruption Commission, two hostel blocks at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Ikare-Akoko, and the Accountant-General’s Office, among others.
He added that renovation works were ongoing at the Ministries of Water Resources, Energy, Women Affairs, as well as other government facilities, while land administration had been digitised to make title processing more transparent and accessible. He, however, identified inadequate security for field officers as a major challenge and appealed for improved protection during official assignments.
At the OSDPC, the General Manager, Mrs Nene Ogunleye, appreciated the committee for the visit, saying it would help strengthen the relationship between the corporation and the legislature. She said the corporation, under the supervision of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Lands and Housing, was responsible for providing affordable housing but faced some challenges in delivering fully on its mandate.
The committee assured the corporation of its legislative support and urged the management to maintain regular communication with the House, noting that effective synergy would enable the lawmakers to understand its challenges and provide appropriate intervention to improve housing delivery in the state.
At OSSAA, the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Morayo Bayo-Philips, who represented the Chairman of the agency, said the agency would continue to discharge its core responsibilities, including registration and permitting of signage and outdoor advertising structures, inspection of approved locations, renewal of expired permits and enforcement against unauthorised or expired structures.
She said OSSAA was collaborating with local governments to identify and capture signage owners, businesses and outdoor advertising structures within their jurisdictions, adding that the initiative would create a comprehensive statewide database, reduce revenue leakages and improve compliance.
The committee also assured the agency of legislative support and urged it to sustain its synergy with the House.
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