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From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti
The Ekiti State House of Assembly on Monday reeled out its achievements as lawmakers celebrate one year in office.
The 7th Assembly comprising 26 lawmakers under the leadership of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, was proclaimed by the Governor of the state, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, on June 6th, 2023.
The Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs of the 7th Assembly in the state, Hon. Babatunde Oke, disclosed this to newsmen on Monday during a press conference heralding the first-year anniversary of the House, held at the Assembly Complex in Ado-Ekiti, capital of the state.
Hon Oke, representing Ikere Constituency 1, in Ikere-Ekiti, also disclosed that the anniversary celebration would be low-key, noting that the economic situation in the country necessitated the low-key celebration.
Reeling out the Assembly’s achievements since its inauguration Hon Oke said “Within the last year, the House has conducted its legislative assignments independently without undue interference by the
Executive arm and has passed thirteen (13) Bills into law, all of which have already received the assent of the Governor.
He emphasized that all the laws passed by the Seventh Assembly were predicated on providing legislative fillip to good governance in Ekiti State and securing the welfare of the people.
He noted that several of the laws that have been passed by the Assembly were entirely novel to Nigeria or contained novel provisions that made such laws unique when compared with similar laws that exist in other States of the country.
According to him, the laws include: Ekiti State Lotteries and Gaming Law, 2023 which seeks to advise the Governor on the issuing of licenses to conduct Lottery and Gaming business in the State, Ekiti State Electricity Power Sector Law, 2023 empowers the state to generate, transmit and distribute electricity to all areas within the State and to maximize power supply through Independent Power Projects (IPP) and improve electricity supply and public lighting for the citizens of the State, The reenacted Ekiti State Environmental Protection and Watershed Management Agency Law, 2024 was part of government agenda to provide friendly environment for her citizens, through protection of its waters and the environment. The law provides a framework for coordinating inter-sectorial activities towards environmental protection and management, erosion prevention, watershed management, mining and other ecological issues in the State as well as ensuring and enforcing adequate environmental standards for the State, The Ekiti State Bureau of Asset Management Law, 2024 benefits include management, optimization and maintenance of state-owned assets. The law also provides for the preservation and maintenance of new and existing assets owned by the State Government and also develop a framework to guide the management and use of government assets, Ekiti State Local Content (First Amendment) Law, 2024 since its passage gives priority to the local contractors and their inclusion in contracts bidding, procurements and service delivery as well as promote the extraction of minerals resources in the State to improve internally generated revenue and locally made goods by encouraging local artisans and other citizens to benefit and contribute to the socio-economic development of the State, Ekiti State Regulation Approval Law, 2024 gives impetus to government to forward to the House of Assembly regulations and subsidiary legislations made by all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the State for collation and approval to avoid conflict of regulations amongst the MDAs or with any existing law before they are published in the State Official Gazette. The passage and assent empowered the House to approve all regulations and subsidiary legislations to check arbitrary regulations not based on government policies.
Other bills passed into law are Ekiti State 2023 Supplementary Appropriation Law, Ekiti State 2023 Supplementary Appropriation 2 Law, Ekiti State 2024 Appropriation Law, Ekiti State Sports Commission Law, 2023, Ekiti State Development and Investment Promotion Agency (EKDIPA 1stAmendment) Law, 2023, Re-Enactment of the Legislative House Powers and Privileges Law,2024, and Ekiti State Regency (Amendment) Law, 2024.
The lawmaker noted that the 7th Assembly also considered some motions and matters of urgent public importance from members of the public, among which are: Calling for the need to address excessive charges and extortion by estate agents and filling stations in Ekiti State, Calling for the need to provide breastfeeding facilities in Public places for working parents in Ekiti State.
Calling for the need to engage in palm cultivation to increase Employment and boost Revenue in Ekiti State, Calling the attention of the House to the brutality of Ekiti residents by security
Agents in Ekiti State, just as the spate of kidnapping in Ekiti State, Calling the attention of the House to the deplorable situation of Federal roads in Ekiti State, most especially the Federal roads connecting the Ekiti State with neighbouring States and the reinstatement of disengaged Staff and lifted promotion bar erroneously placed on some staff in the legislative service.
The chairman said that the Seventh Assembly has ” enjoyed a cordial working relationship with the other arms of Government in the State. While the principle of Separation of Powers has guided the relationship over the last year, there has been substantial cooperation and collaboration among the legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary to fast-track the restoration of our values and the development of the state.”
Activities lined up to mark the first anniversary of the inauguration are as follows: Novelty Match between Members of the House and the State Executive Council, which comes up on Monday – Empowerment Programme anchored by the 7th Assembly Spouses on Tuesday, Unveiling of Legislative Agenda and Parliamentary Journal documents and Visit to Juvenile Home and National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Headquarters. Ado Ekiti to gift some relief materials will hold on Wednesday, and on
Thursday Special Plenary Session to feature: Presentation of Compendium of Laws passed by the 7th Assembly in the last year to the Governor, Presentation of letters of recognition to performing MDAs and other Agencies, Documentary of the activities of the House, and Recognition and Award to 1st Assembly to the 6th Assembly to be received by the first elected Speaker of each assembly.
