Following the retirement of Barrister Paul Bankole as Clerk and Permanent Secretary of the Oyo State House of Assembly on January 19th, 2019, Speaker of the House, Hon. Olagunju Ojo has sworn-in Mrs. Felicia Oyediran to replace him.
Prior to her confirmation and swearing-in during the week as the new Clerk, Mrs. Oyediran was the Deputy Clerk of the House. She was teacher at St. Anne’s School, Molete in 1998 before her appointment was transferred to the state assembly in 1999 as a Clerk-at-Table at the advent of democracy.
In the build up to the confirmation and swearing-in, the House Majority Leader, Hon. Kehinde Subair and Minority Leader, Hon. Akeem Ige had moved a motion on the “Need to Fill the Vacancy of the Clerk of the Oyo State House of Assembly” to fill the vacuum created as a result of the retirement of the former Clerk, Paul Bankole.
They referred the House to Section 93 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and Order VII, Rule 10 (1-2) of the Standing Rules of the Oyo State House of Assembly, which established importance of the Office of the Clerk as regard day-to-day running of the House.
The two lawmakers also reminded the House of the passage of Oyo State House of Assembly Commission Bill into law and assented to by the governor of the state, Sen Abiola Ajimobi, which enabled the Clerk of the House to emerge among Deputy Clerks subject to the confirmation by 2/3 majority of the House of Assembly members.
The Speaker of the House, Hon. Olagunju Ojo, while performing the swearing-in ceremony, charged Mrs. Oyediran to use the opportunity to improve on the quality of legislative service delivery, as well as contributing more to the success recorded so far by the House in terms of law making, oversight functions and other legislative duties.
He reiterated that the step has raised the hope of other members of staff of the House of Assembly to attain the position of Clerk/Permanent Secretary in their careers as civil servants.
The newly sworn-in Clerk, Felicia Oyediran promised to use the position to improve on the working environment, improve welfare of the members of staff, ensuring harmony among honourable members and speedy delivery of legislative services.
Mrs. Felicia Foluke Oyediran, who is the first female clerk to be appointed in the history of Oyo State House of Assembly, hails from Ogbomosho. She is a graduate of the University of Ibadan with her first degree in Geography and Masters Degree in Managerial Psychology.
She has served in various ministries including Governor’s Office and Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Investment and Cooperative with 27 years legislative experience.
Packaged by Kunle Gazali
