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Tag: Ekiti Assembly

  • Ekiti Assembly appoints Acting Clerk

    Ekiti Assembly appoints Acting Clerk

    The Ekiti State House of Assembly has announced the appointment of Mr Opeyemi Ajibola as the Acting Clerk of the Assembly.

    Ajibola will replace the retiring Clerk of the Assembly, Mr Tola Esan.

    This is contained in a statement by Mr Babatunde Oke, Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti.

    Ajibola, who is from Otun- Ekiti in Moba Local Government, was the Deputy Clerk, Legal, before his new appointment.

    The acting clerk joined the legislative service as a Senior Legislative counsel in the Legislative Drafting and Legal Services Department of the Assembly in October 2011.

    According to the statement, the appointment will take effect on June 1, 2024.

  • Ekiti Assembly extends tenure of Local Government Officials

    Ekiti Assembly extends tenure of Local Government Officials

    Ekiti State House of Assembly has approved the extension of the tenure of local government officials to three years, taking effect from the next administration.

    The extension is contained in a bill passed into law, titled, “Ekiti State Local Government Administration, 2023”, during the Assembly plenary on Thursday.

    The passage of the bill was sequel to the submission of the report of the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, headed by Hon. Reuben Awoyemi.

    Awoyemi, while reading the report, stated that the submission was in response to an appeal from various stakeholders in the Local Government systems.

    He also expressed that the bill was to further enhance the operations of council establishments, composition, finance and administration of the councils and the provision of the necessary time for Local Government officials to deliver on their mandate.

    In their contributions, members, including Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye; Adegoke Olajide, and Johnson Oyekola Adeoye, remarked that the bill was essential to development at the grassroots.

    The bill was passed by the lawmakers after careful consideration of the report.

    Another bill, titled, “Yoruba Language Preservation and Promotion, 2023”, was equally passed by the lawmakers at the plenary.

    The bill seeks to reinforce a wide usage and general acceptance of the Yoruba language in the country, and to sustain the promotion of Yoruba language as the second official language in Nigeria, and a language for business transaction in the southwest.

    The bill was unanimously passed after consideration by members.

  • Why I chose not to interfere in Assembly crisis – Ekiti Governor, Oyebanji

    Why I chose not to interfere in Assembly crisis – Ekiti Governor, Oyebanji

    The newly inaugurated  Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, has revealed reasons he didn’t interfere in the crisis that rocked the state Assembly where Speker Aribisogan was impeached by Assembly Members.

    Oyebanji noted that he chose not to interfere because he didn’t have a preferred candidate for any leadership position in the house, saying it wasn’t right for him to be involved in the affairs of the house.

    The  governor reiterated his commitment to the rule of law and separation of powers in the state.

    Oyebanjo made this statement  on Tuesday when the new Speaker of the House, Olubunmi Adelugba, who replaced Gboyega Aribisogan was officially presented to him at his office by the chairman of the All Progressives Congress in the state, Paul Omotoso.

    According to a statement issued by the state government, Oyebanji appreciated the APC leadership in the state for resolving the family disagreement among the state legislators and commended the House for demonstrating the confidence their constituents and the leadership of the party reposed in them.

    The governor used the opportunity to appeal to the new Speaker for a speedy passage of the budget that was with the House.

    He said, “My comment begins with an appreciation to the party leadership for resolving this family disagreement, it’s not a crisis; democracy comes with strains and stresses. There are contestations and disagreements but the beauty of democracy is that there are in-built mechanisms to resolve it.

    “And that is what has played out. The APC is one. I’m a loyal member of this party; the APC gave me the platform to stand on, without the APC, I will not be here today.

    “I refused from day one to be drawn into it simply because I swore an oath to defend the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The constitution is clear of the powers and functions of all the arms of government. I am leading the executive arm of government, they don’t interfere in what I do and it will be wrong and a violation of the constitution for me to interfere in what is going on in the House of Assembly.

    ” What I have done as your governor is to ensure that I protect lives and property and that is within my power as the governor of this state. I have not interfered but I’m happy with the outcome. As progressives, we have a culture and the culture is respect for leadership.

    “And madam Speaker, our budget is before the House of Assembly and we are working so hard to ensure that we deliver on our promises to Ekiti people but we cannot violate extant rules and regulations. I am appealing for a speedy passage of the budget.

    ”There are lots of things we ought to have brought before the honourable House but we are waiting for the passage of the budget.

    “While congratulating the new Speaker, I will just plead with the party chair to bring in everybody and for the first time, I will have to quickly respond to all the insinuations on the social media on what has happened in the House of Assembly. It’s a family affair and as a family we would resolve it.”

    Earlier speaking, Adelugba dismissed talks of rancour in the House while expressing appreciation to the APC chairman in the state for the role he played in ensuring that the party’s decisions were adhered to.

    “All along, everyone refers to Ekiti State House of Assembly as the most peaceful, dutiful, with particular mention of the number of bills that we have passed as we don’t joke with our legislative activities,” she added.

    Ekiti state  Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye; Deputy Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hakeem Jamiu; Secretary to the State Government, Dr (Mrs) Habibat Adubiaro; members of the State Executive Council; 18 members of the State House of Assembly and APC Chairmen of the 16 local government areas were all present at the state house when the newly elected female speaker was introduced to the Governor.

  • BREAKING: Ekiti lawmakers impeach newly elected speaker, Aribisogan

    BREAKING: Ekiti lawmakers impeach newly elected speaker, Aribisogan

    The newly elected speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Gboyega Aribisogun, has been impeached.

    The speaker was removed just after a week of being elected into the speakership position of the Ekiti Assembly.

    Aribisogan  was impeached and suspended indefinitely by seventeen lawmakers, for blocking the passage of the 2022 Supplementary Appropriation Bill.

     

    Assembly Chief Whip, Rt. Hon. Olubunmi Adelugba from Emure Constituency, was unanimously elected new Speaker by all the 17 lawmakers present at a plenary presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Hakeem Jamiu.

    She will replace the impeached Aribisogan at the Ekiti state Assembly.

    The oath of office and the oath of allegiance was subsequently administered on Mrs. Adelugba, who became the first female Speaker in the history of the Assembly, since return to democracy in 1999.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the previous Speaker Funminiyi Afuye dies after a brief illness.

    Upon the announcement of his death, Aribisogun was elected and installed as new speaker before his removal today, Monday 21st of November 2022.

  • Anxiety, fears in Ekiti as policemen take over Assembly complex

    Anxiety, fears in Ekiti as policemen take over Assembly complex

    The Ekiti state House of Assembly complex was on Wednesday morning taken over by the men of the  Nigerian Police following a tip-off for a planned invasion of the secretariat.

    Recall that the Ekiti Assembly recently elected Gboyega Aribisogan, as the new Speaker following the death of the former speaker.

    The police operatives were stationed at strategic locations in the Assembly complex to prevent the purported invasion and breakdown of laws and order at the complex.

    Some staff of the Assembly, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that there was an order from the State Police Headquarters that workers should vacate the complex in view of an alleged plot by some people to attack the House of Assembly.

    However, the newly elected speaker, Aribisogan, told pressmen that there was no crisis in the Assembly.

    He said “The leadership of the police command in Ekiti informed us this morning that they had verifiable intelligence about some hoodlums coming to attack the Assembly complex, hence the need for their presence. They have promised to conduct an investigation into the matter and report to us before the close of work today.

    “I want to encourage my colleagues and staff of the Assembly to be patient and bear with us, normalcy will soon return to the House,” Aribisogan said.

    In his reaction, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti Command, Sunday Abutu, said the law enforcement agents took prompt action by placing restrictions to prevent the breakdown of law and order.

    Abutu, who urged the public not to entertain any fear, said, “We acted on the security alert we received that some people were planning to invade the Assembly and we owe it a duty to safeguard the lives of the people and public utilities.

    “We can’t wait or tarry and allow the lives of the staff of the Assembly to be threatened by any means. So, we took proactive measures by deploying our men there to secure the assembly complex. No cause for alarm, we are on top of the situation,” the police spokesperson said.

  • Ekiti Assembly amends State Electoral Law

    Ekiti Assembly amends State Electoral Law

    Ekiti House of Assembly on Tuesday passed the bill for the amendment of the State Electoral Law.

    The amended bill was tagged: “Ekiti Independent Electoral Commission (third amendment) Bill, 2021.”

    The amended was done at Tuesday’s plenary, presided over by the Speaker pro-tempore, Chief Gboyega Aribisogan, in Ado-Ekiti.

    Aribisogan’s nomination as speaker pro-tempore was due to the absence of the Speaker, Mr Funminiyi Afuye and his deputy, Mr Hakeem Jamiu.

    Aribisogan, who is the Majority Leader, was nominated by Mr Stephen Aribisogan (APC), Ikole Constituency II and seconded by Mrs Yemisi Ayokunle (APC), Ekiti South-West I, in accordance with Rule 27 of the House Standing Order.

    Contributing to the debate, Aribisogan said that the bill was an amendment to the existing law to make the commission performed effectively.

    Also speaking, the sponsor of the bill, Mr Bode Adeoye (APC-Ekiti West II), said that the amendment was a result of the recent creation of 19 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) by the state government.

    Adeoye added the bill was aimed at providing adequate legal framework as well as empowering the electoral body to operate smoothly, in line with the current reality.

    In their separate remarks, Deputy Leader, Mr Tajudeen Akingbolu (APC-Ekiti West I) and Mr Raphael Ajibade (APC-Moba I), said that the bill was coming at the appropriate time.

    According to them, it will enhance more commitment on the part of the electoral body.

    The assembly also passed a bill for a law to establish Ekiti Drugs and Health Supplies Management Agency and Other Matters Connected Therewith, 2021.

    The passage followed the adoption of the report of the House Committee on Health, Human Services and HIV/AIDS read by its Chairman, Mrs Teju Okuyiga (APC-Gbonyin).

    Okuyiga said that the bill sought to establish an agency that would be saddled with the responsibility of ensuring regular availability of quality drugs and health supplies at affordable costs to all the health facilities in the state.

  • BREAKING: Ekiti Assembly suspends LG Chairman over unsolicited presidential campaign for Fayemi

    BREAKING: Ekiti Assembly suspends LG Chairman over unsolicited presidential campaign for Fayemi

    The Ekiti State House of Assembly has directed the Chairman of Ikere Local Government, Hon. Femi Ayodele to step aside for investigation on an alleged disregard for extant regulations.

    Mr Ayodele is reported to be canvassing support for Dr Fayemi for the 2023 presidential election through the poster which was designed with the logo of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Reacting to the poster which went viral, Fayemi in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode claimed that he had no any knowledge of the campaign poster neither did he authorise Mr Ayodele or any person or group of persons to start a campaign on his behalf.

    In a statement by the Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon.Yemisi Ayokunle said the decision of the house became necessary in order to allow for a thorough investigation into the alleged publication in the media, which she claimed was a disregard for extant regulations.

    Hon. Ayokunle noted that the House had committed the matter to the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for investigation and report to the House in seven days.

  • Ekiti Assembly suspends activities indefinitely over coronavirus

    Ekiti Assembly suspends activities indefinitely over coronavirus

    Ekiti House of Assembly on Thursday suspended its legislative activities indefinitely as parts of measure to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus diseases otherwise called COVID-19.

    The decision to suspend legislative activities was reached at the Thursday’s plenary presided over by Speaker Funminiyi Afuye.

    The Ekiti State Government announced a 38-year-old indigene tested positive to COVID-19.

    According to the government, the confirmed case was suspected to have been infected while driving a 27-year-old American visiting Nigeria from Richmond, Virginia, USA in the company of his 31-year-old female caregiver.

    The Chairman House Committee on Health, Mrs. Teju Okunyiga, had Under Matter of Urgent Public Importance, informed the House of a reported case of COVID-19 in the state.

    Okunyiga then called for precautionary measures to contain the further spread of the diseases.

    Other members, who spoke on the matter, included the leader of the Government Business Gboyega Aribisogan, Mrs Yemisi Ayokunle, and Abiodun Fawekun.

    They suggested that aside the Assembly’s complex, public places like schools should be shut down atleast for now.

    Speaker Afuye said “Activities at the Ekiti House of Assembly is hereby suspended as suggested by members, until further notice when the tension about the dread Corona virus is doused.”

    He, however, allayed the fear of residents, saying though the COVID-19 is real, government was on top of the situation.

    He urged members to sensitise their constituents against social interaction, regular washing of hands and unnecessary hand shake among others that could cause the spread of the disease in Ekiti.

    The Assembly thereafter adjourned plenary sitting indefinitely.

  • Ekiti Assembly passes Amotekun bill into law

    Ekiti Assembly passes Amotekun bill into law

    The Ekiti State House of Assembly on Friday passed the bill proposal for the establishment of Ekiti State Security Network Agency otherwise called Amotekun corps proposed by the State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayose.

    This decision followed the presentation of the report of the House Committee on Security and Special Duties at the plenary.

    One of the objectives of the bill is to create a security network that would collaborate with and assist the Police and other security agencies in maintaining law and order within the state by making available relevant information on crime.

    The bill had on Thursday scaled through the first and second readings during an extensive deliberation on the floor of the House, after the draft bill was transmitted by Governor Kayode Fayemi to the House.

    Subsequently, it was committed to the Committee of the House on Security and Special Duties, headed by lawmaker representing Ekiti East Constituency II, Hon Lateef Akanle, who conducted a public hearing attended by traditional rulers, farmers, driver unions, and other stakeholders, on Thursday evening.

    Presenting the report on the floor of the house, Akanle said certain sections of the were considerably amended to suit the peculiarities and uniqueness of the people of the state.

    He read the outcome of the public hearing at the plennary, which included that section 5 (I) of the security network bill the governing board should be headed by a retired law enforcement agent, who should be a man of proven integrity or equivalent in the Nigerian Army not below the rank of Major General.

    The lawmaker stressed the bill proposal is a product extensive deliberation by critical stakeholders, noting its provisions was painstakingly subjected to clause-by-clause and point-by-point scrutinization at the public hearing.

    There was exhaustive debate on the qualification of who should head the board, as the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Hakeem Jamiu and Hon Adeoye Aribasoye sought for the reduction of the rank of the chairman of the board should be reduced from Major General or equivalent to a lower rank.

    Jamiu said: “retired Major Generals are not easy to come by and when you see them, they might be old or tired. So, let us bring down the scale to either Brigadier General , Colonel or equivalent .

    “We have to think ahead of implementation level, so that we won’t run into crisis. How many Major Generals do we have around? Those that are still alive are old for such position, so I move that we reduce the rank to Brigadier General or Colonel or equivalent in other law enforcement agencies”, he submitted.

    The Leader of Government Business , Hon. Gboyega Aribisogan, said with the passage, the state had again exhibited leadership by example and pacesetting feature in the southwest .

    In his remarks, the Speaker, Hon. Funminiyi Afuye said the House had fulfilled its fundamental responsibility of making people-oriented laws that would guarantee adequuate protection of lives and property of the people of the state.

    Afuye expressed optimism that the bill when sign into law would stem the tide of kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery and other manifestation of criminalities that have continued to constitute hindrances to people’s normal social and economic life.

    He said: “By passing this bill, we have made history and we will be creating big strides towards providing and ensuring that all persons travelling along the highways, major roads, remote areas, hinterland and forest are free to participate in their normal social and economic life without fear or hindrance.

    “One of the major concerns has always been the issue kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery and all other forms of criminalities . We believe that this bill will provide the needed security for our people.

    Afuye who expressed confidence that the governor will be thorough with the implementation after assent, said “we can be rest assured that the implementation will be thorough, because we have not passed this bill in vain.

    “You dont need to preach to the converts. We have a governor who is an Amotekun himself and we have not passed the bill in vain, so you can be rest assured that the law will be accorded speedy assent by the governor”, he said.

    On some amendments being sought to the final copy by members, Afuye added : “you can’t get a perfect law anywhere and if you pass a law and if it becomes problematic tomorrow, then the mechanism of amendment will set in.

    “Look at the Constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria, people are still saying some aspects should be amended. So, those contentious areas will be perfected at implementation level”, he assured.

    Afuye commended the members of the security committee for the public hearing conducted, saying they didn’t shortcuit any of the stipulated rules of the House to arrive at the conclusion.

    The speaker added that the report encapsulated the views of the people, who are yearning for a well secured and well protected environment.

    With the passage by the House, the bill is ready to be transmitted to Governor Fayemi for assent.

  • Ekiti Assembly reinstates eight suspended PDP council chairmen

    Ekiti Assembly reinstates eight suspended PDP council chairmen

    Ekiti State House of Assembly has reinstated eight Local Government Chairmen and their Councillors elected on the platform of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).
    The unanimous resolution was reached at Thursday’s Assembly plenary where it was resolved that the Chairmen and Councilors should be reinstated.
    This decision was followed by a petition filed by the ALGON Chairman, Mr. Dapo Olagunju on behalf of the chairmen appealing to the Assembly for their reinstatement.
    The Assembly had on December, 18, 2018 suspended indefinitely all the 16 LGAs Chairmen and 177 Councillors to pave way for forensic audit of the councils’ account over alleged financial impropriety.
    They were indicted by the report of the Assembly Public Account Committee saddled with the responsibility of probing finances of the Councils.
    It was gathered their reinstatement followed the adoption of the reports of the House Committee of Public Petitions submitted by it Chairman, Mr Adegoke Olajide.
    The eight reinstated LGAs Chairmen and Councillors were: Ijero, Moba, Gbonyin, Ado and Irepodun/Ifelodun, Ikole, Ekiti South West and Ekiti West.
    Other eight embattled chairmen and their councillors in Oye, Ise/Orun,Ekiti East, Ikere and Efon, Ido/Osi, Emure and Ilejemeje Local Government remain suspended for further forensic investigation.
    Presenting the report of his committee, the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Petitions, Mr Adegoke Olajide said the Chairman of the Ekiti ALGON, Mr Dapo Olagunju on behalf of others wrote a petition appealing for reinstatement.
    “The appellant on behalf of the 16 indicted LGAs Chairmen appealed to the Assembly to passionately look into their cases with a view to reinstating them back in office.
    ” The decision of the Public Petitions Committee to consider the appeal of Mr Dapo Olajide on behalf of all the 16 indicted LGA Chairmen is premised on the imperative of ensuring stability of the third tiers of government within the state.
    “It is the opinion of the committee that the LGA officials who obtained clearance from the supervising Ministry before embarking on questionable projects can be reinstated,” Olajide said.
    Speaker Funmiyi Afuye commended the committee for a work well done, describing it as a great job.
    Other business at the Thursday’s plenary was the first reading of the Ekiti State Fiscal Responsibility Bill, 2019.
    The Assembly thereafter adjourned plenary sitting to July 15.