By Gbenga Ojikutu
The Ekiti State House of Assembly has organised a befitting valedictory service for its first set of workers who served in the legislative service between 1999 to date.
The event which was first of its kind in the annals of the State Legislative arm however, recorded impressive turn out of retired Clerks of the House, Deputy Clerks and Executive Secretaries in the legislative Arm and was presided over by the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye.
Others are; principal officers of the house, lawmakers and the entire staff of the House of Assembly and Assembly Service Commission.
Addressing the gathering, the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Adeoye Aribasoye thanked God on the lives of the celebrants and charged them not to forget their source.
His words; “What we are doing today came out of inspiration, there is need to celebrate those who have worked in the legislative service, it is not the gift that matters but just to show that we recognised your contributions, however some of you were victims of murky water of politics, he said”
Rt Hon Adeoye Aribasoye while soliciting the retirees to forget their ordeals and all the negative experiences they might have had in the course of discharging their duties during their active service in the legislative arm, added that the experience will serve as healing balm that would bring restoration and re- union of the veterans to the system as he assured the workers that no one would leave the service unceremoniously.
The Clerk of the House, Mr Tola Esan who was the Chief host of the programme appreciated the Speaker and members of the seventh Assembly for their support and contributions to the success of the programme.
Mr Esan charged his Senior colleagues and other retirees not to disconnect from their source saying;, “We need you more than ever before, we want to always tapped from your wealth of experience and we acknowledged your contributions to the legislative service”
However, the Clerk of the House reiterated the need for formation of Association of Retired Management Staff in the legislative service which will give them the opportunity to brainstorm on how to move the legislative arm to an enviable feat.
The Deputy speaker of the House, Rt Hon. Bolaji Olagbaju, Majority Leader, Hon Tolu Ige, Chairman Assembly Service Commission, Hon Kayode Fasakin, Chairman Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, Ekiti State Chapter, Comrade Gbenga Oluwajuyigbe in their Goodwill messages, commended the retirees for their contributions to the system during their active service in the legislative arm urging them to engage in daily exercise and to think on how they can impact the society in order to enjoy their retirement.
The event featured prominently, the likes of Hon.Justice Abiodun Adesodun, Chief Olu Ekundayo, Rev Akintunde Famoyegun, Barr.(Pastor) Ademiloye Fasiku who served as Clerks between 1999 to 2013, other retirees were Mr Luke Oluwafemi, Remi Ayeni, Fola Afolalu, Oladele Adeyanju, Olufemi Ogundipe and Olugbenga Ipinlaye who served as Deputy Clerks and Executive Secretaries respectively.
Some of the highlights of the event include; songs of praise by House of Assembly Choirs, Music interlude, dancing and rendition of songs and presentation of gifts by the Speaker, Rt. Hon Aribasoye to the retired Officers, while departments and individuals as well used the occasion to present gifts to their retired superior officers with ovation and encomium showered on the Speaker and the Celebrants.
Responding on behalf of the retirees, the former Clerk of the House, Rev Akintunde Famoyegun who is also one of the serving Board members of the House of Assembly Service Commission said all the retired Clerks, Deputy Clerks and Executive Secretaries were highly elated to be part of the epoch making event, he commended the Speaker of the House, Rt Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, Members of the Seventh Assembly and the current Clerk of the House, Mr Tola Esan together with the organising Committee for the initiative and promised that the retirees would chat a way of contributing to the growth of the legislative service.
