By Editor
The Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, has warned some unnamed government officials against refusal to honour the summons of the legislature.
Speaking at the plenary of the Assembly inside the hallowed chambers on Thursday, Rt. Hon. Aribasoye said the House may be compelled to invoke its constitutional powers against the erring officials and sanction them appropriately.
He expressed dismay that some members of the executive and some officers in Ministries, Departments and Agencies have failed to appear to answer questions from the lawmakers and bring documents required from them for legislative scrutiny in the interest of the people of the state.
In an apparent bid to drive home his warning to the affected officers and MDAs that it will be no business as usual, the Speaker declared that the House can “bark and bite” and should not be taken for granted.
He warned those who have been summoned to provide documents or appear before a Committee not to delay in doing so because the House may exercises the powers vested in it by the Constitution.
Speaker Aribasoye said: “We heard it on good authority that some MDAs were asked to produce some documents and some of them are foot-dragging. I want to advise them not to push the House because if this House is pushed, this House can bark and bite.
“I want them to know that this House can can bark and bite because it is not a toothless bulldog. It is better for them not to push us to that level, they should not wait until we use our powers against them. This is a warning to all officers that have been invited and those asked to produce one document or the other.
“They should not wait until we exercise our legislative powers. They should know that in this House, we know our rights, we know what to do and when to do it but they should ensure that we allow a smooth working relationship, particularly some in the executive. We will not allow anybody to undermine the powers of this House.
“The Ekiti State House of Assembly reaffirms its commitment to prioritize the interests of the good people of Ekiti State. We will not yield to the demands of any individual or group seeking to serve their own agenda. Our duty is to represent the people.
“Furthermore, we want to make it clear that no government official, particularly those in the executive branch, should underestimate our authority. This House possesses the ability to both bark and bite everywhere, thank you.”
