Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has set up an eight-member committee chaired by Chief George Akosile to coordinate the process for political appointments in the state.
Oyebanji, who assumed office on October 16 last year, made a few appointments while the bulk has been put on hold till now.
A statement on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, titled, “Oyebanji names committee on political appointments,” said the set-up of the committee was in fulfilment of the governor’s pre-election promise to get Ekiti people involved in the appointment of political office holders in his government.
Oyebode said,
“The committee, which inaugural meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 3, 2023, has the mandate of the governor to consult with relevant stakeholders across the 16 local government areas of the state, screen and recommend names of suitable candidates for political appointments.
“Some of the key requirements the committee will consider, aside paper qualifications, include track record, character, competence, compassion, integrity, diligence and contribution to community development, among others.
“The committee’s task, however, does not cover appointment into the governing councils of state-owned tertiary institutions, as there are laid down procedures guiding such appointment.”
According to him, other members of the committee are a former Deputy Governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu; All Progressives Congress state chairman, Paul Omotoso; Chief Alaba Bejide; and Special Adviser to the governor on political Matters, Chief Olajide Awe.
Others are former Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Ronke Okusanya; Mr Bayo Aina; and Mr Lekan Ijidale.
Meanwhile, the governor has expressed dissatisfaction with the slow pace of work in some of the construction projects being undertaken by contractors in the state.
Oyebanji said the affected contractors had no excuse not to deliver on time and to specification as his administration had fully paid for the projects.
He spoke in Ado Ekiti on Saturday during an inspection of various road and drainage rehabilitation projects in the state capital.
The projects inspected included the GRA 3rd Extension; Ajilosun–Ikere Road; Agric; Olope–Matthew Street and Midas area on Ado–Iworoko Road.
The governor said,
“I came to inspect the progress recorded because contractors made some promises to us and I am here to cross-check the promises against what they have done.
“The purpose of government is to make life easy for the citizens and if you know the history of this place very well, this place gets flooded every year and we have resolved that this year, we must ensure that people can move freely and nobody is impeded. Though we have not got to where we want to get to, it is work in progress.
“Well, so far so good, I am impressed with some of the contractors. I am not happy with some because of the pace of work. I have fixed a meeting with such contractors, so we can discuss. I will ask why they are not moving at the pace they should be moving because to the best of my knowledge government is not owing them any money.”
The contractor handling Ado-Iworoko Road, Habib Monrad, assured residents of the state that with the level of work already done on the road, the issue of flooding at that portion of the road had become a thing of the past.