The Ondo State House of Assembly yesterday called on the state Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, to present the 2017 Appropriation Bill to the hallowed chamber for speedy passage.
The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon Bamidele Oleyelogun who made the call at the plenary sitting of the House stressed that the Assembly is ready and prepared to receive the budget estimate for the development of the state.
Full legislative businesses resumed in the hallowed chamber yesterday after four weeks of 'working recess' that followed two months of leadership crisis which earlier led to the closure of the Assembly.
Eighteen out of 26 members of the House of Assembly, including former Speaker, Rt. Hon. Jumoke Akindele, attended the plenary sitting on Tuesday.
Earlier at the resumed sitting, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon Bamidele Oleyelogun, appealed to all members of the Assembly to always embrace peace and harmonious working relationship in the interest of the state, noting that no meaningful progress could be achieved without peace.
The Speaker further commended the state governor over the immunization programme for children from ages zero to five years across the state, just as he thanked the Governor for starting the payment of salary arrears of workers in the state.
The House also prayed for quick recovery of President Muhammodu Buhari so that he could continue with his good works in the country.
On the sudden death of Senator Isiaka Adeleke, the Assembly commiserated with the Osun state government and the family of the first civilian governor of Osun state and prayed for the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
The Clerk of the House, Mr. Michael Adeyelu, also on the floor of the Assembly, read notice of defection letter from three former PDP lawmakers, Rt. Hon. Malachi Coker, Hon. Olugbenga Araoyinbo and Hon. Abayomi Akinruntan which they had earlier forwarded to the House.
The three legislators hinged their decisions to join the APC on the crisis of the PDP from the National to the Ward levels, saying that the party had lost direction.
They particularly commended Akeredolu for his outstanding performances in the state and promised to always support him to move the state forward.
The Spokesman of the House, Hon. Olamide George, after the plenary said the crisis that had rocked the hallowed chamber had been amicably resolved, noting that all members of the House would continue to work together in the interest of the state.
George appreciated the Almighty God and all members of the Assembly for allowing peace to return to the hallowed chamber and assured of the lawmakers' readiness to give their constituents better representation.
Speaking on the 2017 Appropriation Bill, the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Ogundeji Iroju and the Majority Leader, Hon. Olugbenga Araoyinbo explained that the budget would assist the state government in bringing dividends of democracy to the people of the state.
According to them, the House is mindful of the yearnings and aspirations of the people of the state, asserting that the budget would go a long way in improving the socio-economic conditions of the people in particular and the state in general.
The duo further said the sizeable numbers of lawmakers at the plenary was a clear indication that the crisis that had engulfed the Assembly has become a thing of the past, adding that the legislators were happy to come back as indivisible family after the crisis.
