By Editor
- A bill calling on the State Government to declare a day to be known as “Afe Babalola’s Day” disallows after first reading.
- Considers the report of Health Committee on the allegation of lackadaisical attitude of EKSUTH Health Care Workers.
At the plenary sitting of Tuesday 23rd April, 2024 the House considered a bill tilted “Afe Babalola’s Day Recognition”, sponsored by the duo of Rt. Hon. Bolaji Olagbaju Egbeyemi and Hon. Ayodeji Adegbite representing Ado Constituency 2 and 1 respectively.
After the Bill was read the first time, it was subjected to debate. Leading the debate, Rt. Hon. Bolaji Olagbaju Egbeyemi, the Deputy Speaker of the Aseembly, informed the House that the bill is in recognition of the contributions of Aare Afe Babalola to the development of the Ekiti State and the Country at large. She stated further that the bill would empower the State Government to declare a day to be known as “Afe Babalola’s Day” in honour of a man being referred to as a living legend.
During the debate all members were allowed to speak on the desirability of the Bill. They all agreed on the sterling contributions of Aare Afe Babalola to Ekiti State but disagree on declaring a day in his name as proposed by the the bill. Several names were mentioned by members as heroes of Ekiti State that deserve to be honoured and the bill if allowed to be passed would open flood gates of such bill.
Members identified a law that provides for the establishment of Ekiti State Honours Roll “Oni Uyi Awards” and other related matters that was passed in year 2020 with the objectives to recognize and reward those who have in one way or the other supported the development of Ekiti State and those who have excelled in their chosen careers.
Members in their contributions further advocates for hall of fame to celebrate individuals, living/posthumous, who have made extraordinary contributions to the State.
After the debate, through a voice vote from members put by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, the bill was disallowed from further legislative attention.
House of Assembly Commission (Re-enactment) First Amendment Bill, 2024 and Ekiti State Board of Internal Revenue (Third Amendment) Bill, 2024 both passed through the first reading.
The report of House Committee on Lands and Housing on the Petition written the Residents Association of Fajuyi (Irewolede) Housing Estate against some government officials was read by the Chairman Hon. Yomi Ayorinde.
“Rt. Hon. Speaker, at the plenary of 16th April, 2024, a petition from Fajuyi Irewolede Estate Residents Association to the effect that a certain official of the State Government was attempting to pull down a perimeter fence build by the Residents to ward-off incursions from adjourning communities.”
“Through our observations, the barrier constructed by the Residents Association of the Estate does not in anyway put anyone at a disadvantage but rather compliments the efforts of the Housing Corporation to realize its vision of a gated estate”.
After the report was adopted as a working document of the House and thoroughly debated by members, it was resolved that a master plan of a gated estate should not be amended or distorted to satisfy any individual no matter how placed. The House further resolved that Residents who harnessed access road should adhere strictly to the master plan of the Estate within 2 months; and that Housing Corporation should identify inhabitable buildings within the Estate and made them habitable within 6 months failure of which the certificates of the owners of such buildings be revoked.
The report of Committee on Health on the allegation of lackadaisical attitude of EKSUTH Healthcare workers was read by the Chairman, Hon. Abimbola Solanke.
“Rt. Hon. Speaker, an allegation of lackadaisical attitude of Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) to patients was raised and discussed at the plenary of Tuesday 12th March, 2024”.
“The Committee visited EKSUTH to have on-the-spot assessment information on the allegations, and further invited the CMD and Management Staff of the Hospital for an engagement with the Committee”.
After adopting the report as a working document of the House and thorough debate of the report by members, the resolutions of the House includes that the Staff of EKSUTH as caregivers should be exposed to more trainings especially on relationship with patients. The House resolved also that the State Government has given the Hospital Management Board a directive to recruit more health workers to ease the pressure on the health workers in the State and that the recruitment exercise should be made transparent. The House further resolved that the welfare of the health workers should be improved upon.
The House adjourned plenary sitting sine die.
