By Rasheeda Yahaya
Contrary to speculative reports going round that new law makers are planning to impeach the speaker of the house of representatives, a member of the ‘Novelty Group’ in the 10th House of Representatives, Hon. Kolawole Akinlayo (APC-Ekiti), on Thursday dismissed the report.
Hon. Akinlayo, made the clarification in his office in an exclusive interview with some parliamentary correspondents after the house plenary.
Kolawole however, confirmed the existence of the splinter group which he said are only after the welfare and the wellbeing of the members of the 10th assembly.
In his speech, the honourable member pointed out that the novelty group has both the old and new law makers.
He said;
“To the best of my knowledge, and as far as I know, I don’t think any of such exist. As far as I know, there is no member or group of members that intend to change the leadership or try to work against the leadership structure.
“But what I’m aware of is that I am a member of the Novelty Group; it’s a conglomeration of First Timers.”
He maintained that “there was nothing like a gang up against the leadership of the House or a threat to them. What I know is that I’m a member of the Novelty Group, which is a first-timer group, which is normal in every assembly.
Honourable Akinlayo further states that the “Novelty group” use to exist even during the 8th and 9th assembly
“They had it in the 9th Assembly; they had it in the 8th Assembly, so it’s just normal. But what the Novelty Group is for is the welfare of members, regardless of whether they are first-time, second-time, or ranking officers. It’s just the general welfare of members. That was what the group was set out to achieve, not to witch-hunt or effect changes in the leadership; there was nothing of such to my knowledge.”
When asked about the number of members in the Novelty Group, he said, “There are many; we are new members, and some old members are also part of it; some returning members are also there.”
Not strictly for new members alone, some returning members are also joining the group. So, it’s just like a pressure group in the House to press for their entitlement, not a group that will work against the leadership structure; nothing of such is in anybody’s mind as of now,” he stressed.
Speaking on the issue of employment in various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), Hon. Akinlayo disclosed plans to present a motion that seeks to address the secret employment being offered by various MDAs.
He said, “I have a motion that I want to raise on the floor of the House because it’s a disservice to me as a legislator. I’m from Ekiti State, the most educated state in Nigeria. 97 per cent of Ekiti people are educated, but they are jobless. People went to school; they have a 2.1, First Class, but they didn’t get employment. So, it’s a disservice to me that I will represent three local governments and agencies of government will be doing secret employment, and Parliamentarians will not be aware.
“It’s a serious disservice to me. Must I be stoned before I do something? So, I have a motion that I want to bring to the floor that there is no agency of government that must employ without the input of National Assembly members.
“Because we are the representatives of the people, so if you employ and people are not aware, and we have people, is it until they stone me before I know that employment is going on? People call us every day and say they are employed in this place and everywhere. Various agencies are doing secret employment everywhere; it’s not normal, and that should stop.
“So, I’m an advocate that any moment going on must be advertised, Nigerians must apply, and whoever qualifies must be employed, not doing secret employment because I know your parents, it shouldn’t be.”
The honourable member listed out some of his achievements since his assumption of office which includes a bill to establish the federal school of nursing and midwifery in ekiti state which has already passed third reading.
He further called on Nigerians to be patient with the President Tinubu Led adminstration, noting that once the 2024 budget is implemented there is going to be relief in the living condition and the hardship being experienced in the country.
Also speaking on food insecurity in the country, Hon. Akinlayo said government in its way to tackle food insecurity has given out 1,200 bags to each senator while House of reps members got 600 bags each to share to their constituents so that they can go back to the farm.
He however said that personally he feels that is not what the masses wants for now “if you give them fertilizer to go back to the farm there is insecurity in almost every part of the country and so the farmers cannot even go to their farms. As for me I feel that security should be tackle first so that the famers can feel secure to attend their farms without any fear”.
When asked if he feels the service chiefs are not doing enough, Kolawole said he feels the service chiefs are overwhelmed and therefore they need to put in more efforts to tackle the insecurities in the country only then would farmers be able to go to their farms freely and food Insecurity will be a thing of the past.