Ayodele Olalere
Lagos State governor, Mr.Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday, signed into law the Unlawful Societies and Cultism (Prohibition) Bill 2020.
The governor signed the Bill at the Lagos House, Ikeja. He also signed the Procurement Bill as well as Audit Service Bill into law.
It is recalled the Lagos State House of Assembly had, in 2020, passed the anti-cultism bill during the plenary session through a voice vote conducted by the Speaker, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa.
The bill which has now become law stipulated punishment for parents of cultists found guilty of cultism in the amendment of the Anti-Cultism Law submitted by the state government.
The speaker had said that the punishment was to further prohibit unlawful societies and cultism, including other connected purposes in the state.
“Parents of cultists found guilty of Cultism in the state might be liable for punishment. The bill, if signed into law, will provide for the prohibition of unlawful societies and Cultism in Lagos and for connected purposes.
Though we will also differentiate between the types of Cultism in the country, so that we won’t solve one problem and create another,” Obasa had said.
A member of the House, David Setonji, representing Badagry Constituency II, had also admonished parents to caution their children by ensuring their compliance with societal norms and values.
” The issue of Cultism has been a major challenge to us in the state. There is nothing wrong in associations coming together, but when it had to do with devilish ideas, causing commotion, that is what we are against.
As a result, parents should learn to take care of their children to.ensure they confirm to social norms and values,” he had said.
