When the Kwara State House of Assembly was inaugurated precisely on June 8, 2015, it could be rightly observed it was a period Kwarans were charged with high hopes of having a legislative arm of government that would function effectively, efficiently but work independently as enshrined in the nation’s constitution. This, it is gathered was due to the people’s belief that an efficient House would go a long way in enhancing the state governance and importantly complement the Executive in administering the state.
Similarly, it was a time Kwarans and all the stakeholders prioritised having another set of lawmakers that would quickly set the tone for the Executive and surpass the 7th Assembly’s feat adjudged as one of the best in the country. The expectations were for the lawmakers to focus especially on enactment of good laws and as well embark on oversight functions which are their primary objectives. These, it was believed would assist in putting the state on the right path.
However, in achieving these objectives, the Honourable members it is expected must first of all elect officers among themselves who would administer the House for the next four years the lawmakers mandate would lapse. In doing this, the Honourable member representing Ilorin South Constituency, Hon. Dr. Ali Ahmad was elected as the Speaker along with his Deputy while other Principal Officers were also selected immediately after the 8th Assembly was inaugurated.
In his acceptance speech, Rt. Hon. Dr. Ali Ahmad reminded the lawmakers on the daunting task ahead. He said as representatives of the people who share their aspirations and pains, they must be creative in finding short-term panacea and long term solutions to the people’s plights.
The Speaker pledged the Legislature’s readiness and eagerness to work with the Executive in ensuring protection of life and property of all Kwarans and most importantly ensure advancement of their welfare and economic well-being.
He noted that though the 8th Assembly is unique as it was without a single member of the opposition but also reminded the lawmakers that it comes with its own challenge of complacency, apathetic toleration and laid back attitude. He warned that they must avoid negative drawback of consensus and their own version of consensus must mean that they are united in ensuring transparency, and that there is no dissent in achieving the goal of accountability and good governance.
The Speaker assured Kwarans that the lawmakers would carry out their legislative assignments appropriately including oversight functions with thoroughness and dedication in order to ensure that their people are proud of them. He reminded the legislators on the need to strive to surpass the feat recorded by the 7th Assembly as one of the most vibrant in the country, adding “8th Assembly too shall not only maintain the tempo but will leave the House better than we met it’’.
However, in the last one legislative year of the 8th Assembly which exactly clocked on June 7, 2016, it could not but said to have performed better. This is in term of numbers of activities the House has engaged in vis-a-vis several numbers but important motions moved by members, resolutions passed by the House and bills debated on; all of which have come to define the 8th Assembly. Undoubtedly, the House has in the last one year demonstrated its eagerness to make lives better for Kwarans in spite of several challenges facing the state.
Despite the fact that the 8th Assembly has several numbers of new legislators with only 6 returnees, the House, it is noted had been able to carry on with its activities adequately with experiences of the returning lawmakers. Also, of great assistance to the successes recorded in the last legislative year was the training workshops organised for members to acquaint them on the nitty-gritty of lawmaking business. This, has in no small way equally enable them perform their legislative functions adequately.
It is noteworthy to state that the 8th Assembly had in the last one year received 9 bills namely Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Bill, 2015; Revised Appropriation Bill, 2015, Kwara State Waste Management Agency Bill, Appropriation Bill, 2016, Abubakar Sola Saraki (Amendment) Bill, 2016, Kwara State Revenue Administration (Amendment) Bill, 2016, Kwara State Revenue Court (Amendment) Bill, 2016, Kwara State Land Charge (Amendment) Bill, 2016, Secret Cult and Secret Societies in Kwara State (Prohibition) Bill, 2016 respectively. Out of the 9 bills, 6 have been passed into laws while 3 of them have been assented by the governor. Similarly, motions resolved are 40 in number while completed reports are 13.
Meanwhile, the Speaker’s assurances in his acceptance speech that the House would not cease to do the right thing in spite of the fact that it has no single opposition member has always come to the fore in the floor. Also, the assumption especially from the oppositions that the 8th Assembly might lack robust debates on issues brought to the floor have since been defeated and as such proved wrong.
Little wonder, the House since its inauguration has on daily basis gathered more recognition. It has come to be associated with by Kwarans as the voice of the voiceless. The House never cease to conduct of public hearings on issues affecting the generality of Kwarans.
Out of many achievements recorded during the legislative year was the step taken by the Kwara State House of Assembly to encourage its counterpart, the Niger State House of Assembly on the need to call Federal Government’s attention to the abandoned reconstruction of Ilorin-Jebba road project. It would be recalled that the ever busy road has since become a death trap for the users while several lives
and property have been lost as a result of the dilapidated state of the popular road.
The move however became a reality as both Houses met at a spot along the road and passed a resolution to urge the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency come to the people’s plight. Not long after the move that the Minister of Works, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN)
visited the road while work subsequently commenced on the abandoned road. Presently, the contractor handling the project has covered several kilometres and the road users continuously express appreciation for the lawmakers’ action.
Worthy of mention is the approach adopted while considering the state 2016 budget. Every detail was scrutinised during budget defence and each sector was invited to defend the fund allocated in the appropriation. It was a clear departure from the way budget was done before now as the Speaker personally attended virtually every session and contributed effectively in the defence. The House ensured that only projects that are realisable are in the budget to ensure prompt implementation.
Equally, the House embarked on curbing proliferation of filling stations in residential areas in the nooks and crannies of the state which has hitherto become very worrisome to the citizens. Prior to the House intervention, it should be noted that investors willingly purchase plot of lands and built filling stations wherever they deemed fit for their business not minding the effect of having such venture in residential areas would have on the people. The House in the course of the assignment closed several filling stations sited in areas not suitable.
Another feat recorded during the last legislative year is beefing up of the Information Unit at the Assembly. The development has had tremendous improvement in the sittings reportage while the public is now more acquainted with day-to-day happenings in the House of Assembly while the feed backs are acted on appropriately.
As the second Legislative year begins on June 8, 2016, the legislators, it is hoped would not relent on the feat recorded in the first legislative year but strive to further achieve more success as they embark on their legislative assignments.
Shuaib Abdulkadir
Special Assistant on Media to the Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly
shuaibabdulkadir84@gmail.com
Twitter: @shuaibbawa2
