Deconstructing Ekiti Assembly in one year

THE proposed Canada trip of members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly has elicited a lot of hoopla. Some skeptics spewed hubris and viewed the intellectual adventure as misplaced and reckless. Some said it was insensitive, and it could be because such individuals accord low esteem and recognition to intellectual discourse and receptiveness.  Most significant was the arising inquiry regarding the claims that the Ekiti State House of Assembly was recognized by the presidency as the best in ICT integration in Nigeria. This probe makes it expedient to reflect on the landmark achievements of the 7th Ekiti Assembly, under the headship of Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye. This becomes imperative because the tirades of some of these critics vividly confirmed high-level ignorance about happenings at home. It seems they are in a state of quandary and disconnect. As someone who is fully abreast of the situations, we owe it a duty to educate and rescue them from the dark and educate them on the substantial progress made by the current assembly.

Uninformed and destructive criticism has been the bane of Nigerian democratic growth. Opposition is good, but it has to be responsible. There must be due diligence. No room for intellectual laziness and armchair syndrome. Disappointedly, those who took opposing views and negative interest in this Canada trip were slothful. They did it with invidious intention, not in public interest. To me, I saw a well-contrived morbid game by some people to bring down a whole arm of government. It was ill-intended, badly packaged and desperately pushed to achieve a predetermined action.  Without the risk of being immodest, one must acknowledge the accomplishments of the 7th Ekiti Assembly in one year, and they have not just been unique, they are astounding and truly commendable. These practical achievements demonstrate a robust commitment to independence and effectiveness, challenging any notion of being a rubber stamp. The Assembly, in its legislative activities successfully passed 16 private and executive bills, along with 46 resolutions, reflecting the dedication and vibrancy of its members. These useful pieces of legislation can be verified via https://www.hoa.ek.gov.ng, the official website of the Ekiti State House of Assembly.

One of the star developments in the 7th Ekiti Assembly is the adoption of e-Parliament. By implementing an e-parliament system, the Assembly has not just blazed the trail, it has also modernised its legislative processes, earning recognition for its excellence in ICT integration. Added to this is the Assembly’s accountability initiatives. This has ensured transparency by holding all Local Governments and MDAs accountable, this reinforcing the importance of good governance. The Assembly has also added community empowerment to its activities. Through this, spouses of lawmakers have invested over N80 million to support widows, orphans, and vulnerable groups, thereby showcasing a strong commitment to social responsibility. An addition to this is its training initiatives facilitated through sponsorship from partners. An additional training for all principal officers in the southwest is set to take place in November at the same venue, further emphasizing the commitment to capacity building. Apart from live broadcasts of all plenary sessions, the Assembly also has a functional website which enhances transparency and allows citizens to engage in real-time with their government. This is outside the online TV platform of the assembly which marked another innovative step in enhancing communication with constituents.

On staff benefits, it is imperative to note that for the first time, staff members of the assembly have access to loans through an independent loans board, significantly improving their welfare. The 7th Ekiti Assembly has also scored high in constituency engagements. The members have actively been engaging with their constituents. This has fostered direct communication and prompt addressing of public concerns. In addition, it has also enhanced legislative impact. Notably, the 7th Assembly has achieved the highest number of private bills passed in the history of lawmaking in the state. Indeed, for the first time, private bills outnumber executive bills, and this fear has further underscored the Assembly’s commitment to serving the people of Ekiti. Meanwhile, the ongoing remodeling of the Assembly complex into a state-of-the-art facility stands out as another landmark achievement. This upgrade not only enhances the working environment for lawmakers but also symbolizes the Assembly’s commitment to modern governance.

Flowing from the above, it is, therefore, essential for self-appointed opposition to recognise the genuine impact of the 7th Ekiti Assembly. While I agree there could be dissenting views, the facts on ground clearly illustrate the assembly’s unflagging dedication to progress, transparency, and the welfare of all Ekiti citizens. It was perplexing therefore that some critics labelled this planned, self-sponsored trip to Canada a misplaced priority. Such viewpoint flagrantly disconnects from the realities of modern governance, which heavily relies on informed and intellectual approaches to legislation. In the context of global trends, this trip is not only well-conceived but beneficial to the governance and development of Ekiti. As the Assembly ramps up its oversight functions, monitoring and evaluation, it is necessary to back these efforts to elevate the positive changes unfolding in Ekiti.

• Oyebisi , a public affairs analyst, writes in from Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State.

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