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OSEMA Hails Osun Assembly for Passing Emergency Management Amendment Bill
The General Manager of the Osun State Emergency Management Agency (OSEMA), Mr. Biola Oni has commended the 8th Osun State House of Assembly for its commitment to the safety and development of the state through the passage of impactful legislation since its inauguration.
Oni particularly applauded the Assembly, led by Speaker Rt. Hon. Adewale Egbedun, for the recent passage of the Osun State Emergency Management Agency (Amendment No. I) Bill, 2025.
He describes the Bill as a groundbreaking step that will significantly improve Osun’s disaster response system.
The bill, sponsored by Hon. Adeyemi Adewumi, who represents Obokun State Constituency, marks the first amendment to the OSEMA Law since its original enactment in 2008.
According to Oni, the update reflects a modern approach to emergency management and aligns the state’s response mechanisms with present-day realities and global best practices.
“The passage of this amendment bill is a bold and forward-thinking move by the 8th Assembly. It strengthens OSEMA’s financial and operational capacity, enabling us to save more lives, minimize losses, and restore normalcy faster during emergencies,” he said.
He explained that Osun residents had over the years suffered severe losses from various disasters, including flooding, fire outbreaks, communal clashes, and road crashes, but the agency’s efforts were often constrained by outdated laws and limited resources.
Oni added that the state would now establish Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs) in all local government areas to act as first responders during crises with the new amendment.
These committees, he said, would ensure quicker and more coordinated responses at the grassroots level.
The amendment also provides for the creation of an Emergency Trust Fund to encourage contributions from individuals, corporate organizations, and development partners toward disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.
When signed into law by Governor Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, Oni added, the bill would also enable the acquisition of modern rescue equipment, improve the management of resettlement camps for displaced persons, and guarantee victims of disasters timely and dignified relief.
The OSEMA boss expressed confidence that the amended law would minimize casualties in future incidents as he recalled major emergencies that had tested the state’s resilience including the Hausa-Yoruba clash in Ile-Ife, the Ifon-Osun and Ilobu–Erin-Osun communal crises, as well as floods in Iwo and Imesi-Ile and fire outbreaks in Ipetumodu.
“This new legal framework will enhance coordination, strengthen partnerships, and ensure that no Osun citizen is left without help in times of distress,” he assured.
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