Ekiti Assembly Screens Nominees For Three Commissions As More Local Councils Render Account.

Ekiti Assembly Screens Nominees For Three Commissions As More Local Councils Render Account.

The Ekiti State House of Assembly has screened nominees for the boards of the Local Government Commission, House of Assembly Service Commission and Audit Service Commission.

The nominees who all appeared at the plenary of the Assembly held on Tuesday were asked some questions after which they took their bows and left and now awaiting their confirmation as chairmen and board members of the Commission at a later date.

The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, simply asked former Assembly members among the nominees to speak briefly themselves while the lawmakers representing their constituencies of the origin testified to their suitability before they were asked to take bows and go.

Others who were not former lawmakers were asked few questions during the session before they took their bows and left the chambers.

Some of the nominees who were not Assembly members in the past were not asked any questions because of their political pedigrees and statures, achievements recorded and value added to the state in the past political offices handled and sterling performances as civil servants.

Chief Samuel Abejide was screened as the Chairman-nominee for the Local Government Service Commission, a position he held in the last dispensation under the administration of former Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

Other members screened for the Local Government Service Commission are a journalist, Mr. Wole Olujobi; former House of Assembly member for Ilejemeje Constituency, Hon. Cecilia Dada; another former Assembly member for Emure Constituency, Hon. Febisola Adewale; former state president of National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Comrade Segun Onaade; Prince Suyi Aladesanmi and Mr. Olawole Adedipe.

Former House of Assembly member for Ekiti West Constituency 2, Hon. Kayode Fasakin, was screened for the chairmanship of the House of Assembly Service Commission while another former Assembly member for Moba Constituency 1, Hon. Olaniyi Olajide, was also confirmed as a member of the Assembly Service Commission.

Other House of Assembly Commission members screened included former Assembly member for Ado Constituency 2, Hon. David Taiwo; former Assembly member for Ekiti East Constituency 1, Hon. Rotimi Ajidara; former Commissioner for Information and later Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Fola Richie-Adewusi; former House of Assembly aspirant, Mr. Bidemi Ipinlaye and former Clerk of the Assembly, Rev. Akintunde Famoyegun.

Former state Auditor General, Mr. Adebayo Adeojo was screened as Chairman of the Audit Commission at the plenary with his nomination reuniting him with the Speaker who served under him as an auditor many years ago.

Other board members of the Commission screened were a lecturer at Ekiti State University, Dr. Mufutau Bello; immediate past Auditor General of the state, Mr. Alfred Fasakin; an accountant and grassroots politician, Mr. Jonathan Oluwasanmi and former Assembly Deputy Chief Whip who represented Ijero Constituency, Hon. Ekundayo Akinleye. 

The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, extended a rare gesture for Chief Abejide by standing up in his honour describing him as his political father and mentor who had diligently served the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the state in different capacities.

Rt. Hon. Aribasoye eulogized Mr. Olujobi, a former News Editor of Daily Independent Newspapers who served as Special Adviser on Media in the Fourth Assembly and was later appointed as a member of the Local Government Service Commission during the immediate past administration for his forthrightness, consistency and loyalty to the party in turbulent times.

He also lauded former Assembly members Hon. Dada, Hon. Adewale, Hon. Fasakin, Hon. Ajidara, Hon. Olajide, for their service to the state during their stints in the legislature noting that their latest nomination has given them another opportunity to serve the state.

The Speaker described a former Auditor General, Mr. Adeojo as "helper of destiny," recalling the fatherly support he enjoyed from the nominee when he was an auditor under him revealing that he (Adeojo) graciously signed his (Aribasoye's) letter for study leave with pay to proceed to study law.

Rt. Hon. Aribasoye said he never imagined in life that his former boss at Auditor General's office would come back years later to stand before him seeking the confirmation of his nomination for a new position.

"This is a lesson for those who are tyrants in office, those who oppress their subordinates in office and those who use their privileged positions to frustrate others, I think they will learn from this because Mr. Adeojo was a father to me and a helper of my destiny when I was in service," Rt. Hon. Aribasoye explained.

The Speaker also testified to the virtues of another Audit Service Commission nominee who is the immediate past Auditor General of the state, Mr. Fasakin, whom he said assisted his subordinates and was generous to them when he was in service.

Also during the plenary, six local council development areas and local government councils presented their account of stewardship to the lawmakers.

They councils included Igbara Odo/Ogotun, Ado North,  Emure Local Government, Ado West, Ikole West and Ajoni.

The Assembly adjourned plenary till Wednesday, 4th October.