The lawmaker representing Ogbomoso North state constituency in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Wumi Oladeji has cautioned the House Majority Leader, Hon. Sanjo Adedoyin to adhere strictly to rule and principle guiding the legislative business.
The lawmaker, in her reaction to the Majority Leaders’ contribution on the report on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters presented by Hon. Olusegun Popoola at plenary on Tuesday, said that the House of Assembly is meant for serious business and not an avenue to trade words.
Hon. Sanjo Adedoyin, who is a member of the Committee, presented an addendum to the report, claiming that the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters should interface with the Commissioner in charge of the local government, Chief Bayo Lawal to investigate some critical issues raised in the committee report.
Hon. Oladeji maintained that the Committee should have done a thorough job and harmonizes every opinion before the report is presented before the House for consideration.
According to the lawmaker, “obviously Mr. Speaker, the Majority Leader of this honourable House formed part of the committee and we are not here to start trading words, we are here for proper business. The issue raised by him ought to have been trashed out at the committee level so, what are we talking about? Are we here to play with words or what? We should learn to weigh our words before voicing them out Mr. Speaker.”
Meanwhile, Speaker, Adebo Ogundoyin in his remarks, said Majority Leader’s observation will be an addendum to the resolutions of the committee report. He directed that an investigation be carried out as to why there was disparity in the release of funds to various local governments.
“It is unfair for some local governments to have access to additional funds to do other works whereby some other local governments will not have the same opportunity to do the needful in their own local governments.” Ogundoyin said.
The Speaker also directed the Committee on local government to invite the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Bayo Lawal to enable the house investigate the issues raised have them resolved.
In his report, the Chairman, House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Ademola Popoola, indicted some Council bosses for performing below expectation especially in the area of infrastructural development.
The report also indicted the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters for administrative delay in the affected local government and Local Council Development Areas in getting approvals for procurement of furniture.
The Committee report also accused local government chairmen of engaging consultants in generating Internally Generated Revenue instead of engaging the trained staff in the finance departments of the various councils.
The House commended Governor Makinde for the approval of N10 million security funds to each local government on monthly basis from May 2021 till date which according to the report has strengthened the state’s security network especially at the local government level.
