Senator Kola Balogun bags Oyo NUJ award, reels out achievements

The senator representing Oyo South senatorial district in the national assembly, Senator M Kola Balogun has been honoured by the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State chapter, as the most media friendly senator from the pacesetter state.

Balogun, who was awarded as the most media friendly senator on Monday, November 30, at the state Secretariat of the NUJ during 2020 press investiture at Iyaganku, Ibadan, noted that the award means that people are quietly taking note of activities of public office holders.

The lawmaker while presenting his scorecard as a senator, stated that he has been working ceaselessly since assumption of office, to ensure that the people of Oyo South senatorial district are best served in ways that will enable them access dividends of democracy.

He maintained that though the NUJ perceived the award as recognition of excellent performance, he saw it as a clarion call to do more by providing efficient representation to his people at the red chambers of the National Assembly.

The senator further stated that some of the bills and motions he had presented and sponsored on the senate floor include Bill for an Act to develop a Decentralised System of Vigilantism Peculiar to every Local Community in Nigeria; Bill for an Act to alter the provisions of constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as (amended) to make provisions for periodic conduct of National Population and Housing Censors in Nigeria.

According to Balogun, other bills sponsored by him include but not limited to Bill for an Act to amend Health Act, 2014 to regulate Medical Treatment Abroad and for other matters connected therewith, 2020; National Primary Healthcare Development Agency Act Amendment Bill 2020 among others.

Balogun, who has been described as one of the most vocal and vibrant voices at the red chamber, noted that he has made immense contributions to motions by his colleagues such as revitalisation of Textile Industry in Nigeria; need to increase budgetary spending on education, healthcare, power, road, and rail infrastructures as well as agriculture during the 2020 Appropriation bill debate.

He maintained that himself and his colleagues, especially those in the same senate committees with him have ensured effective use of oversight function as a tool to keep the federal government in check and to adequately keep the nation abreast of executed and ongoing projects by the federal government.

Speaking on some of the projects he has executed to bring succour to his people at home, the senator said that he has donated 500KVA transformers to six communities in Ibadan North East local government to facilitate regular electricity supply to residents in the areas.

He added that he had also ensured that members his senatorial district were adequately enlisted in all the federal government palliative schemes meant to cushion the effect of COVID-19.

Other projects he mentioned include provision of motorised boreholes at different local governments under his senatorial district; creation of employment opportunities for members of his senatorial district; rural electrification project, as well as ensuring that members of his constituency are not short changed in term of federal government opportunities.

He, however, maintained that despite all that he has done already, concerted efforts are in top gear to positively affect lives of his constituents across all areas of engagements.