The Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, has said the screening of commissioner-nominees by members of the Assembly has been marked by transparency, fairness and commitment to excellence.
He spoke on Wednesday as the legislators concluded the screening of candidates nominated for the positions of commissioner by Governor Biodun with the appearance of the last three nominees at the plenary held inside the hallowed chambers of the Assembly Complex.
With the conclusion of the screening of a total number of twenty one (21) nominees in the last two weeks, the stage is now set for the confirmation of those found worthy, fit and suitable ahead of their swearing-in by the Governor.
The nominees who appeared for screening at Wednesday’s plenary included a former Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun; former Commissioner for Works and Transportation, Mr. Adesola Adebayo and former Caretaker Chairman of Gbonyin Local Government, Mr. Femi Awe.
Expressing satisfaction with the conduct of the exercise, the Speaker hailed his colleagues for their painstaking commitment to ensure a smooth process and also commended the nominees for giving a good account of themselves judging by their responses to questions asked by the legislators.
He said: “I am proud to say that this screening exercise has been marked by transparency, fairness, and a commitment to excellence. Our esteemed members of the House have displayed unwavering professionalism, asking probing questions and seeking clarity on matters of utmost importance.
“The nominees, in turn, have showcased their competence and dedication, leaving no doubt about their readiness to contribute to the development and progress of Ekiti State.
“I extend my heartfelt appreciation to all members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly for their unwavering commitment and tireless efforts in ensuring the success of this exercise. Your dedication to upholding the principles of good governance and accountability has set a commendable standard for all to follow.
“To the Commissioner nominees, I commend you for your resilience throughout this process. Your willingness to subject yourselves to the scrutiny of this House is a testament to your commitment to public service. Your collective expertise and passion will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our great state.
“As we draw this screening exercise to a close, let us remember that our ultimate goal is to serve the people of Ekiti State diligently. We must remain steadfast in our commitment to transparency, accountability, and delivering on the promises made to our constituents. Together, we can create a brighter and more prosperous future for all Ekiti residents.
“Once again, I extend my deepest gratitude to all participants in this exercise and wish the Commissioner nominees success as they embark on their respective portfolios. Let us continue to work together in unity, progress, and harmony for the betterment of Ekiti State.”
The Speaker reiterated the fact that the Ekiti Parliament is composed of the elected representatives of 3.5 million people of the state adding they were sent to the House by their constituents to ensure that every kobo appropriated adds value to their lives and well accounted for.
He further harped on the need by the nominees to always honour summons to appear before the Assembly whenever clarifications are needed on how funds are expended and how projects are executed.
Rt. Hon. Aribasoye charged them to always carry the Assembly and its relevant committees along in the execution of projects restating the readiness of the legislators to ensure that the people of the state get the true value for their money.
The Speaker explained that the exercise was a proof that Ekiti is blessed with men and women who have passion for the development and are ready to serve to ensure quality service delivery to the people in the grassroots.
Rt. Hon. Olatunbosun, a former legislator, in his remarks advocated the restoration of constituency allowance for the House of Assembly members to enable them have legacy projects against their names and in their memory.
He suggested that the state legislature could liaise with the executive arm for such projects to be channeled through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) maintaining that the take-home pay of the legislators are insufficient for them to execute projects for their people.
The nominee said he had been privileged to serve the government of the state as Deputy Speaker during which he served as an acting Governor, Senior Special Assistant on Rural Development, Technical Assistant to the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Millennium Development Goals and Chairman of the House of Assembly Service Commission which he said he did creditably.
He also noted that he served as the Publicity Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) during which the party bounced back to power to provide quality leadership to the people of the state saying he remained proud to be the voice of the party during the time he served.
Mr. Adebayo also explained that he had distinguished himself as a businessman and also sat on the boards of corporate organizations before venturing into politics.
He explained that his tenure as Commissioner for Works and Transportation was marked with unprecedented infrastructure development and execution of legacy projects which he supervised to completion.
The last nominee, Mr. Awe, was given the privilege to take a bow and go to the admiration of his followers and supporters in the gallery.
The House adjourned its plenary to Thursday, 20th July, 2023.