BY ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA
Rt. Hon Olubunmi Adelugba. Speaker EKHA
The month of April was as eventful as the previous months in the Ekiti State House of Assembly under the speakership of Rt. Hon. Olubunmi Adelugba.
The heat of the 2023 general elections has cooled down and the legislators in the Sixth Assembly are back to their desks to carry out their official assignments as their tenure gradually wind down.
The Sixth Assembly is expected to finish its tenure in the first week of June to pave the way for the proclamation and inauguration of the Seventh Assembly by Governor Biodun Oyebanji.
The April edition of the EKITI ASSEMBLY WATCH captures selected activities that involved the House of Assembly and its Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olubunmi Adelugba.
EKITI ASSEMBLY CONFIRMS NEW SIEC CHAIRMAN
The Ekiti State House of Assembly, has confirmed a retired Judge of the State High Court, Justice Cornelius Akintayo, as the new Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC).
Justice Akintayo was confirmed at a plenary of the Assembly as the new Ekiti SIEC Chairman after he was given the privilege of taking a bow and go having been found worthy of the new position by the legislators.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olubunmi Adelugba read a letter forwarded to the Assembly by Governor Oyebanji seeking the concurrence of the Assembly to confirm Justice Akintayo as the chair of the state electoral agency for a term of five years as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).
The state legislators said having been found as a competent and incorruptible judge in the course of his judicial career, Justice Akintayo would serve as an unbiased electoral umpire as the chair of the state electoral agency empowered by law to organize local government elections in the state.
The nominee spoke extensively on his working experience which he started as a court bailiff in the old Ondo State till the time he was appointed as a Judge of the State High Court in 2002 by the first civilian Governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, a position he held till his retirement from service.
The Speaker had subjected the nomination to a voice vote with all the legislators at the plenary saying “ayes” to the confirmation of the nominee as the new SIEC chief in Ekiti.
Other legislators who had spoken in favour of his confirmation included the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Hakeem Jamiu; Hon. Femi Akindele, Hon. Akin Oso, Hon. Tajudeen Akingbolu and Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye.
Other key positions held by the new SIEC Chairman in the course of his career included Director of Civil Litigation, Ministry of Justice; Solicitor General/Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice; national assignments of membership of Election Petitions Tribunal in Bauchi, Jigawa and Abia States and Chairman, Local Government Election Petition Tribunal in Ekiti State.
He also served as the Chairman of the Ekiti State Judicial Panel of Inquiry into Human Rights Abuses perpetrated by the Operatives of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) under the administration of the immediate past Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.
The Justice Akintayo-led Panel of Inquiry into Human Rights Abuses by the SARS Operatives made history as the first to complete its assignment among other similar panels inaugurated by other states in Nigeria and the first to pay compensation to the victims who filed petitions.
EKITI ASSEMBLY CONFIRMS APPOINTMENT OF EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, DEPUTY CLERK
The Ekiti State House of Assembly has confirmed the appointment of a journalist, Mr. Francis Tolulope Afolabi as the Executive Secretary of the House of Assembly Service Commission (HASC).
The newly appointed Executive Secretary is a former Director of Information Services at the Assembly where he brought his wealth of experience to bear and performed meritoriously.
The Assembly also confirmed the appointment of Mrs. Titilope Agbede as the Deputy Clerk, Legislative Services.
The confirmation of the two officers at a plenary was sequel to a motion moved by the House Leader of Business, Hon. Johnson Bode-Adeoye which was seconded by the Chief Whip, Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, stating the need to fill the hitherto vacant positions.
In their contributions, the honourable members unanimously supported the motion for the confirmation based on the nominees’ capacity, experience and ability to deliver having worked with them for over three years.
In her remarks, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olubunmi Adelugba, charged the newly confirmed Executive Secretary and Deputy Clerk to justify the confidence reposed in them and deliver on the new tasks committed to their hands.
EKITI ASSEMBLY CANVASSES ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY IN GOVT BUSINESS
The Ekiti State House of Assembly Committee on Public Accounts has emphasized the need for a consistent yearly audit check of financial records of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for thorough accountability and judicious expenditure of government funds.
The Committee Chairman, Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, made the pronouncement during the consideration of the domestic report of the Auditor-General on the accounts of government of Ekiti State for the year ended 31st December, 202, held at the Assembly Complex in Ado Ekiti.
Hon. Aribasoye, who spoke on behalf of other committee members, frowned at the attitude of some ministries that are fond of not keeping an up-to-date record, also stated that the exercise was borne out of the need at ensuring transparency and to know how funds appropriated to MDAs at the beginning of every financial year was put to use.
The Chairman, who is also the Chief Whip of the House, though, expressed that the Committee was not out to witch hunt any one, but would not fail in its primary mandate of ensuring and scrutinizing that there is value for public money, efficiency, effectiveness and that all fund appropriated are expended on what they are meant for.
He commended the Office of the Auditor-General and various ministries and agencies for the cooperation and the improvement witnessed so far in the Auditor-General’s report as at December 2021, compared to previous years.
The State Auditor-General, Mr. Adeuya Victor Oluwole in his contribution, stated that his role is to ensure transparency and accountability within the operations of financial management of Ekiti State and timely reporting to the legislature to enable it ascertain how the resources entrusted to government establishments have been utilized.
He maintained that his office would not hesitate to query MDAs whose financial records are questionable and riddled with infractions.
The representatives of Ministries, Departments and Agencies present at the audit report consideration which included, the Ministry of Education; Education Trust Fund; Office of the Accountant General; Ministry of Budget; Housing Corporation and the Central Medical Store, all pledged to always do the needful and follow due process in their financial expenditure to ensure government achieves its aim of good governance.
EKITI ASSEMBLY REPRESENTED AT GROUNDBREAKING OF AIR FORCE BASE
The Ekiti State House of Assembly was part of history at the foundation laying ceremony of the Nigerian Air Force base at Igbemo Ekiti within the precincts of the Ekiti International Agro Cargo Airport.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olubunmi Adelugba, joined other state dignitaries to welcome the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao and other top echelons of the Nigerian Air Force to perform the task of establishing the Air Force Base.
The commencement of work on the Air Force Base was the result of the efforts of the former Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, which was built upon by the incumbent Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji to enhance the security architecture of the state and to make the airport more functional.
Rt. Hon. Adelugba was among the senior government functionaries that were presented with commemorative souvenirs by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Amao.
To the Speaker, the turning of the sod for the Air Force Base was a double celebration as it fell on the day Governor Oyebanji’s election was affirmed by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
Rt. Hon. Adelugba said: “It was a rare privilege for which I thank God for making it possible for me to be a part of history at the ground breaking of the Air Force base at the International Cargo Airport in Ekiti on 6th April 2023.
“Thank God for JKF who laid a good foundation and the good successor in BAO. Same day, Oni’s case challenging BAO’s victory at the Supreme Court was dismissed. Case Closed! Glory be to God.”
MADAM SPEAKER HOSTS FEMALE COUNCILLORS FORUM
The Forum of Female Councillors in the Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas of Ekiti State paid a courtesy visit to the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olubunmi Adelugba.
The Forum which is led by Mrs. Sabitiyu Ayorinde, said it was paying a courtesy visit to the Speaker and identify with her a senior legislative colleague from whom they could learn much about the business of legislature in particular and politics in general.
The Ekiti Women Councillors noted that they see Rt. Hon. Adelugba as a role model, a woman of virtue and somebody who has made the womenfolk proud in the state by her emergence as the first female Speaker in the history of the state.
While praying for the emergence of more female Speakers in Ekiti in the future, Hon. Ayorinde said the rise of Rt. Hon. Adelugba to the number one legislative seat in the state has given hope to members of the Forum that they could rise higher in politics in the years ahead.
The Forum urged the Speaker to help promote its ideals and give assistance to its members in areas of capacity building, giving opportunities of higher political attainment and promotion of women affairs in the state.
Responding, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adelugba, who was appreciative of the visit hailed the Forum for deeming it fit to pay the courtesy visit and identify with her on the strength of her status.
She said her rise to the speakership was made possible by God’s grace and the support she enjoys from her political mentors who reposed confidence in her.
Giving advice to the female Councillors, the Speaker noted that being a woman is a challenge for them to redouble their efforts for them to earn the trust of the electorate and pave the way for them to attain higher political positions.
“If women don’t support women, we will not get to our political Promised Land. See the next woman as your sister and we should not allow men to divide us,” she said.
The Speaker encouraged the Forum to send its members on rotational basis to witness the sittings of the State House of Assembly to learn more about the business of lawmaking and other legislative duties which would assist them in their own councils.
The Speaker added: “You must know the nitty-gritty of your assignments as legislators at the grassroots level. You must be abreast of your Standing Order and should not be onlookers in your legislative houses.
“You now that we have more of you as councillors in LGs and LCDAs, you must work harder so that we can have more women as councillors, local government chairmen, House of Assembly members and other higher political positions.”
The Speaker particularly appealed to women to always support their colleagues vying for political offices and desist from pulling down female candidates and lending themselves to be used by men to cause a division among them.
Rt. Hon. Adelugba also advised them be planning on what they can do outside office for them to have something to fall back upon after their tenure stressing the importance of having a small business or “second address” beside politics is very important.
APC WINS THE LAST SEAT AT SUPPLEMENTARY ASSEMBLY POLL
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has won the remaining last seat that was up for grabs at the supplementary elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on April 15.
The seat in question was that of Ido/Osi Constituency 1 in which the House Deputy Leader of Business, Hon. Abiodun Fawekun was re-elected in the poll conducted in three polling units in Ward 1 of the Constituency.
Hon. Fawekun defeated the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Mr. Ishola Fadahunsi to coast home to victory with a total number of 4,764 votes.
The SDP flag bearer came second with a total of 4,294 votes in the poll.
The election was declared inconclusive when it was first conducted on 18th March following violent disruptions of the voting process in three Polling Units of 003, 012 and 014 in Registration Area (Ward) 01.
Seven political parties participated in the election.
With the APC grabbing the last available seat, the ruling party has won 24 seats in the State House of Assembly leaving the remaining 2 seats to the SDP as the Seventh Assembly will be dominated by the APC.
Ogunmola is the Special Adviser (Media) to the Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly.