…Sets up ad-hoc committees

By Josephine Oguntoyinbo

The Ondo State House of Assembly has resumed legislative duties after a four-week recess, with the setting up of two ad-hoc committees on Health and OSOPADEC.

The committees are to be chaired by Dr Christopher Ogunlana, representing Irele Constituency, and Oluwatoyin Allen, representing Ese-Odo Constituency.

Announcing the development during plenary, the Speaker of the House, Olamide Oladiji, stated that the committees would oversee the relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) pending the reconstitution of statutory standing committees.

Oladiji charged members to recommit themselves to the service of the people and support ongoing efforts to restore prosperity to the state.

Addressing his colleagues in the Hallowed Chamber, the Speaker expressed gratitude to God for granting members a safe return in good health, welcoming them back with renewed hope.

“It is with a renewed sense of purpose and dedication to the people’s work that I warmly welcome each and every one of you back to the House. I hope you had a rejuvenating time with your loved ones and have returned with fresh energy to serve those who have placed their trust in us,” he said.

He reminded lawmakers of their critical roles as representatives of the people, urging them to prioritise the welfare of their constituents while upholding the values of justice, equity, and good governance.

“As we resume our legislative duties, we must remain steadfast in our commitment to promoting good governance, ensuring social justice, and fostering economic growth. Our decisions must be driven by a genuine desire to improve the lives of our people,” he added.

The Speaker acknowledged the efforts of the Executive arm in addressing the socio-economic challenges facing the state, stressing the need for strong legislative backing.

“Our legislative actions must support the Executive’s strategies aimed at tackling hardship and restoring our citizens to the path of prosperity. We must deploy all necessary instruments to ensure the dividends of democracy are felt across the state,” Oladiji stated.

Also speaking, he addressed the absence of standing committees in the House, revealing that interim ad-hoc committees had been constituted to fill the gap, pending the reconstitution of statutory committees.

Concluding his remarks, the Speaker charged lawmakers to approach the new legislative season with renewed vigour and dedication.

“Let us work tirelessly towards building a better future for our people, guided by the principles of justice, equality, and progress. I wish us a productive session ahead,” he said.