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By Emmanuel Adeleke
Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has sent the list of commissioner nominees to the House of Assembly, after eight months in office.
The Speaker of the House of Assembly, Adeoye Aribasoye, unveiled the list of commissioner nominees forwarded by the governor during Tuesday’s plenary.
Speaking at the plenary, the first to be held since the seventh assembly was inaugurated on June 6, Aribasoye disclosed that the screening and confirmation of the nominees would commence on Monday, July 3.
Reading the communication from the governor dated June 26, the Speaker directed the Clerk of the Hossembly to direct each of the nominees to furnish the assembly with 30 copies of their Curriculum Vitaes not later than Friday, June 30.
According to Aribasoye, the screening of the commissioners-designate would be held on a senatorial district basis, with nominees from Ekiti North to be screened first, followed by Ekiti South and Ekiti Central.
The Speaker, who announced the intention of the legislators to do a thorough job, also said that not more than three nominees would be screened per day.
From the list read by the speaker, Ado, Efon, Irepodun/Ifelodun, Ido/Osi and Gbonyin Local Government Areas have two commissioner nominees each while the nine remaining local government areas have one each.
The nominees are Mrs Tosin and Mrs Tayo Adeola (Ado), Karonwi Oladapo and Mrs Peju Babafemi (Efon), Prof. Ojo Bakare (Ekiti West), Ojo Atibioke (Ijero), Taiwo Olatunbosun and Mr Adebayo Ajisola (Irepodun/Ifelodun).
Others are Adebayo Adesola and Dr Kareem Akande (Moba), Chief Folorunso Olabode (Ilejemeje), Dr Kofoworola Aderiye, Mr Oyeniyi Adebayo (Ido/Osi) and Mr Seun Fakuade (Oye).
Also on the list are Prof Patrick Tedela (Ekiti South West), Kehinde Ajobiewe (Ekiti East), Olufemi Awe and Prof Bolaji Aluko (Gbonyin), Ebenezer Boluwade (Emure), Kayode Fasae (Ise/Orun) and Otunba Dolamu Adeniyi (Ikere).
The Speaker further explained that the approval 10 Special Advisers would be done alongside the screening commissioner nominees.
The governor said sending of the the list signified his intention to expand the State Executive Council with the appointment of commissioners to assist in service delivery to the people of Ekiti State.
Recall that the Ikole Local Government Area already have two serving commissioners: Dr. Oyebanji Filani (Health and Human Services) and Mr. Akintunde Oyebode (Finance and Economic Development) while Oye Local Government Area is already represented by the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Mr. Dayo Apata (SAN).
The trio were sworn-in alongside nine other Special Advisers shortly after Oyebanji assumed office on October 16, 2022.
The Speaker also announced the constitution of three key committees pending the constitution of other standing committees of the house.
The committees constituted include Rules and Business, which has the House Majority Leader, Hon. Tolu Ige, as the Chairman and Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Yomi Ayorinde as Vice Chairman. Other members of the Committee are Hon. Iyabo Fakunle-Okieimen, Hon. Ademola Ojo, Hon. Femi Akindele while the Assembly Clerk, Mr. Tola Esan would serve as the Secretary.
The House Committee on Media and Public Affairs has Hon. Babatunde Oke as Chairman and Hon. Lateef Akanle as Vice Chairman. Other members are Hon. Idowu Odebunmi, Hon. Bosede Olowookere, Hon. Femi Akindele.
An Ad Hoc Committee on Legislative Agenda that would liaise with the State Executive Council to come up with Executive-Legislative Agenda was also constituted. The committee is expected to prepare legislative agenda for the seventh assembly in concurrence with the executive arm of government.
The committee is chaired by Hon. Ayodeji Adegbite. Other members include Hon. Abimbola Solanke, Hon. Babatunde Oke, Hon. Omotayo Babatunde and Hon. Idowu Odebunmi. Mr. Bankole Ogunmosunle would serve as Secretary.
Also at the sitting, the Ekiti State Electric Power Sector Bill passed the first reading while the Ekiti State Sports Commission Bill passed through the first and second readings.
After an exhaustive deliberation, Aribasoye committed the Ekiti State Sports Commission Bill 2023 to the Committee on Youth and Sports, which would be constituted very soon.