By Oluwatosin Oladokun Come June 6 this year, the tenure of the 7th Assembly will be officially two years in office, under the...
By Oluwatosin Oladokun
Come June 6 this year, the tenure of the 7th Assembly will be officially two years in office, under the able leadership of Right Honorable Timothy owoeye.
To say the least, this sacrosanct arm of government has not been found wanting especially in the areas of effective and efficient legislation which is one of its core duties.
Members of the legislative arm of government across the 26 state constituencies have, during the second year, done their best towards ensuring timely passage of bills as well as resolutions in a dispassionate approach.
Indeed the seventh assembly under the watch of the iconic lawmaker; Right honourable Timothy Owoeye has successfully changed the otherwise assertions of a rubber stamped legislature perhaps kudos should go to the state helmsman; Governor Adegboyega Oyetola who has been consistently demonstrated exemplary leadership by ensuring independence of each arm of government and upheld the norm and tradition of the sacred chamber at all times.
It is on record that the relationship between both the executive and legislative arms of governments in the state of osun has been cordial and productive, both sides are driven by the same goal hence, they are constantly on the same page thereby bringing about tangible developmental progress to the credit of Gov. Oyetola’s administration.
Evidences show that the timely presentation of the annual budget estimates of the state for each fiscal year by the Oyetola led government coupled with not conflicting figures which gives way to a well-crafted and robust budget attests to the assertions that Gov Oyetola is a financial guru.
There's also the need to emphasise that the Timothy Owoeye led Seventh Assembly is a composition of well-read and professional lawmakers, for instance, the committee in charge of appropriation headed by the parliamentarian representing Ayedaade state Constituency; Honorable Adebayo Taiwo Olodo and his deputy; Honourable Festus Babatunde Komolafe as well as a seasoned banker turned Lawmaker Honourable Olalekan Olatunji are always there to critically examine all sides of the draft for each fiscal year.
Perhaps, the Composition of the committee on appropriation made the job easier when it was time for representatives of each ministry, department and agency of government to appear before the House committee to defend their budget estimates.
For people who have had the opportunity to monitor the annual budget defence proceedings of the house, you will agree that the composition of members of the state legislature and disposition coupled with their conducts are noble and thorough, they do things in line with the order of the house, in other words, no space for any member to float any personal or ulterior interest or agenda.
As we all know, the World is now a global village and since the advent of social media platforms, Osun House of Assembly is not left behind, the parliament now operates an E- parliament which allows Osun in diaspora to have a sense of participation in the proceedings of the house and they can as well send their proposed drafted bills via email.
Legislatively speaking, there is a good number of bills and resolutions which have been passed into law and are in the archives of the Right Honourable Timothy Owoeye led assembly.
Many other bills are similarly at the committee of whole just as some await third reading .
The house of Assembly has equally during the second year under review, confirmed quite number of appointees of Mr Governor.
In the year in review, members and Chairmen of the Constituted standing committees carried out an effective and productive oversight function to various completed and ongoing projects in the State.
For instance Right honourable Timothy Owoeye who doubles as the chairman of all standing committee chairmen inline with the order was with the Chairman, house committee on Environment and Sanitation, honourable Olugbenga Benjamin Ogundipe to Segilola mining site in Atakunmosa Local government area where he examined the level of environmental degradation and in that spirit, appealed to the company to ensure compensation to the affected farmers.
Hon. Owoeye also constituted an ad-hoc committee chaired by the deputy speaker; honourable Olufemi Popoola and Chairman House Committee on Water resources; Honourable Nasil Olateju to meet contractors handling Ilesa Water project with a view to ascertaining the cause of the delay of the awarded water project.
Oversight function which is a critical and central function of the legislature to exercise it's Constitutional role of checks and balances.
It was indeed a bumper harvest for members of the seventh assembly as they go through the hurdles of checking out on some of the steps taken by the third tier of Government, the local government areas of Osun state.
Chairman, House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Honourable Festus Babatunde Komolafe led members of the committee on an inspection tour to all the Local Government Areas including LCDAs across the state to beam legislative search lights on the ongoing and completed projects been handled by the local government administrators.
This is with a view to promoting prudency, transparency and accountability of finances and expenditures of Local Government Administration.
The Chairman House Committee on Public Accounts, Honourable Abidemi Gbenga Ogunkanmi and members were in Ilesa venue of a two day workshop with Account General of state Local Government.
The Ogunkanmi led Committee, during the seminar exercise noted that before any fund is released from the purse of Local Government the house of Assembly must be kept abreast of it at all times.
During the second session,Chairman House Committee on Community and Rural Development, Hon Wale Adedoyin along with the members of the committee were also on an oversight visit to inspect some rural roads in Gbongan, Wakajaye , Ogbaga, and Benbe Orile owu road.
It might, in the same vein, be interesting to note that the chairman, House committee on works and transport; Honourable Engr Badamosi Toafeeq and his members were at the various roads contracted by the administration of Gov Adegboyega Oyetola including Olaiya fly over,Osogbo kelebe/Iragbiji,Ede,Ara and Ejigbo,Alekuwodo Osogbo and township roads across the state.
The efforts of the state Lawmakers during covid-19 pandemic under the chairman house committee on health; Honourable Mrs Abioye Adenike Elizabeth did a lot on sensitisation coupled provision of precautionary measures such hand sanitisers and nose covers apart from the fact that each parliamentarian was at his/her state constituency for the distribution of covid-19 palliative packages aimed at easing the very pressing demands of that particular moment.
Human capacity building and welfare of the assembly complex staffers are also of immense concern to Right honourable Timothy Owoeye, this is seen in the quality of attention dedicated to routine workshops sponsored by the House of assembly and this has gone a long way in enhancing the productivity of Assembly workforce, this informed a 3-day seminar organized for every staff of the assembly led by a seasoned administrative and dutiful Clerk of the house; Mr Simon Akinwale Amusan.
To say the least, lawmakers in the State of Osun House of assembly are doing well, the last 2 years under the headship of Rt. Hon. Timothy Owoeye has been productive not minding the peculiarities of this season nationally and globally, the people of the state of Osun have, in the last 2 years, enjoyed the benefits of quality legislation, the fruits of a harmonious relationship between both the legislative and the executive arms of government have been evident for all and sundry to reap in the state of osun.
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