Ekiti state Governor, Mr Biodun
Oyebanji has restated the commitment of his administration at applying
legislative framework to strengthen the institution of governance in the state.
Governor Oyebanji made this
declaration on Monday while assenting to new laws recently passed by the State
House of Assembly at the Executive Council Chamber of the Governor’s office
adding that his administration is committed to quality legislative framework
and strong institutions to make government programmes and policies enduring
legacies to bequeath on the people of the state.
The bills signed into law are Ekiti
State Regulation Approval Law, 2024; Ekiti State Environmental Protection and
Watershed Management Agency Law, 2024; Ekiti State Bureau of Asset Management
Law, 2024 and Ekiti State Local Content (First Amendment) Law, 2024.
Speaking shortly after signing of the
laws, Governor Oyebanji assured the people of the state that his administration
would not relent at ensuring that made for the common good of the people were
implemented swiftly to impact service delivery in the State.
The Governor said Ekiti State
Environmental Protection and Watershed Management Agency Law, 2024 was part of
government agenda to provide friendly environment for her citizens, through
protection of its waters and the environment. The government is committed to
environmental protection and management, erosion prevention and control,
watershed and catchment management through public enlightenment.
He added that the law would provide
framework for coordinating inter-sectorial activities towards environmental
protection and management, erosion prevention, watershed management, mining and
other ecological issues in the State as well as ensure and enforce adequate
environmental standards for the State.
The Governor also stated the benefits
of Ekiti State Bureau of Asset Management Law, 2024 to include management,
optimization and maintenance of state-owned assets, provide for the
preservation and maintenance of new and existing assets owned by the State
Government and also develop a framework to guide the management and use of
government assets.
On the Ekiti State Local Content
(First Amendment) Law, 2024, Governor Oyebanji said the law would henceforth
give priority to the local contractors and their inclusion in contracts
bidding, procurements and service delivery as well as promote the extraction of
minerals resources in the State to improve internally generated revenue and
locally made goods by encouraging local artisans and other citizens to benefit
and contribute to the socio-economic development of the State.
Oyebanji also said Ekiti State
Regulation Approval Law, 2024 Would give impetus to government to forward to
the House of Assembly regulations and subsidiary legislations made by all MDAs
in the State for collation and confirmation to avoid conflict of regulations
amongst the MDAs before they are published in the State Official Gazette.
He noted further that the law would
empower the House of Assembly to approve all regulations and subsidiary
legislations to check arbitrary regulations not based on government policies.
Speaking further, the Governor assured
Ekiti people of his administration’s unwavering commitment and determination to
bring the dividends of democracy to all nooks and crannies of the State adding
that the policy initiatives and roadmap to keeping Ekiti working would continue
to be felt by people at the grassroots.
Oyebanji said “It has been my practice
to acknowledge the smooth working relationship between the Executive and the
Legislature. In the Constitutional system, the Legislature provides checks and
balances on the Executive, but it must also be a source of creative,
responsible leadership, for in the end, work must be done and progress must be
made.
“I must commend Mr. Speaker and the
members of the 7th Assembly for your unwavering commitment and dedication to
Ekiti project. The synergy is very heartwarming and our people are the major
beneficiaries in terms of good governance and impactful service delivery.
“I am aware that the shared prosperity
mantra of our Administration resonates with the Legislative agenda of the 7th
Assembly which is keeping Ekiti working towards shared prosperity through
responsive legislation. The Honourable Members are stakeholders in the
transformation of the State with the need for collaborative efforts to make
poverty history in the State.
“Our government will continue to
accord desired priority to the Laws and Resolutions passed in the House. This
informed my decision to assent to these Laws, three of which are Private Member
bills from the House. We will be relentless at ensuring that these Laws are
implemented to impact velocity into service delivery in the State.”
Earlier, in his remarks, the Speaker
of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Adeoye Aribasoye said the bills
were testament to the unwavering commitment of the house of assembly to
advancing the shared prosperity mantra of the oyebanji led-administration.
The Speaker maintained that the bill
was carefully crafted to promote development, progress and prosperity of Ekiti
people adding that the bills represent the collective dedication to good
governance and environmental sustainability and the promotion of local content
within the development agenda of the state.
While commending the Governor for his
purposeful leadership, policies of accommodation and his clear understanding of
the tenent of the separation of powers, the speaker assured the people of the
state that the House would continue to collaborate with the executive arms of
government to ensure that dividends of democracy reach nooks and crannies of
the state .
Also at the event were the Deputy
Governor, Chief (Mrs.) Monisade Afuye, Members of the State House of Assembly,
and Members of the State Executive Council.
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