Oyo State House of Assembly has confirmed the nomination of two commissioner nominees, Professor Musibau Babatunde and Mrs. Toyin Balogun as requested by the state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde.
The two commissioner nominees who were absent at the first batch of the screening of commissioner nominees were asked to take a bow after responding to questions from the lawmakers.
Speaking with journalists shortly after their confirmation by the House, Professor Babatunde, a former Commissioner for Budget and Planning and Mrs. Balogun, Director General, Women Mobilization, Omituntun 2.0, expressed readiness to put their best in any portfolio assigned to them by the governor.
Earlier, the House had granted the approval of the state governor, Engr. Makinde seeking the confirmation of the appointment of 20 Special Advisers.
The approval was sequel to a letter of request forwarded to the House of Assembly by Governor Seyi Makinde and read at the plenary by the Speaker, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin.
The letter read in part, “I wish to bring to the attention of the House that since the assumption of this administration, I have made only a few appointments. However, there is a need to get other appointees on board to assist the executive Arm in the implementation of its policies.
“It is as a result of this that I seek the legislature’s kind approval to appoint twenty Special Advisers to occupy strategic portfolios. It is pertinent to inform your Honor that my request is in line with Section 196 Subsection 1 and 2 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.”
The Speaker, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin said the approval was granted to give Omituntun 2.0 a stronger footing.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State House of Assembly has suspended two local government chairmen, Hon. Taoheed Adedigba, Akinyele Local Government and Hon. Yussuf Sahib Oladayo (Agba Egbe), Ibadan North Local Government.
The House asked them to step aside pending investigation into alleged gross misconduct and misappropriation of funds.
The House, however, constituted an ad-hoc committee headed by Hon. Peter Ojedokun from Ibadan North/Ibarapa Central to investigate the allegations leveled against the two chairmen and report back within two weeks.
Their suspension was followed by the petition written to the House by the legislative arm of government of the two local governments.
While Hon. Adedigba was alleged of gross misconduct by eight out of 12 councilors, Hon. Oladayo was suspended on the allegation of mismanagement of funds.
Packaged by Kunle Gazali
