Members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly are set to embark on a trip to Brampton, Ontario in Canada for an Executive Legislative Leadership Retreat.
In a letter signed by the Clerk of the State House of Assembly, Mrs Titilope Agbede, she said the trip, billed for November 2024, is to enhance lawmakers’ skills in navigating policy complexities and engage with the Ekiti Kete Association in Canada. The retreat aims to equip legislators with the necessary knowledge and skills to navigate the complexities of policy implementation challenges effectively.
However, the spokesperson for the PDP caretaker committee in the state, Jackson Adebayo, condemned the proposed retreat as “wasteful spending” by the state parliament, particularly as Ekiti State workers struggle to cope with economic hardships. He labelled it as “insensitive to the plight of the common man.”
Responding to the wide range of condemnation the trip has generated, the Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, in a statement he signed, clarified that it is a self-sponsored trip of select members to Canada for a legislative capacity-building programme.
He said, “This will be my first and last response here. I previously issued an official statement through my media aide, but I want to clarify a few points out of respect and to avoid any mischief-makers misleading others. This initiative has sparked discussion, and it is essential to highlight this endeavour’s facts and importance”.
He further posits that it is a “Self-Sponsored Participation: This trip is entirely self-funded by the participating members, ensuring that no financial burden falls on the state. Only those who can finance their journey will attend, demonstrating a commitment to responsible governance.
Jackson Adebayo however accused the lawmakers of attempting to mislead the public by portraying the trip as self-funded. “People in Ekiti are facing severe poverty, yet the lawmakers seem oblivious to the realities facing both the country and the state. This trip is meant for merriment rather than any serious legislative training,” he asserted. “It’s a mere excuse to spend government funds, with lawmakers acting as a rubber stamp to support their agenda.”
The Commissioner of Information of the state, Rt. Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun, insisted that the trip is not funded by the state government.
“The government has not committed any funds to this trip. Ekiti State remains one of Nigeria’s most transparent states, as recognised by Transparency International,” Olatunbosun stated.
He added that no law prevents the legislators from pursuing self-development opportunities, whether in Nigeria or abroad, and reiterated that the trip is self-funded.
@adekunleoderind on X posted: How on earth is that travelling justifiable to any reasonable person in this period. They even added their wives. They can’t go to Afe Babalola University to learn Leadership training. They can’t organise zoom training but in a nation where people are hungry and living in poverty
@Le_ccoushey on X: The funny part is that their minions and those who take and expect crumbs from those in power will look the other way on this, hoping someday it will be their turn. Very insensitive people.
@tmacbond on X: What happened to Ikogosi Warm Springs & didn’t
say we should promote made in Nigeria & live within our means?.
