Rep. Kolawole Voices Against Secret Employment Across MDAs, Says No Plan To Impeach Speaker Abbas

<strong><em>Hon. Kolawole Akinlayo</em></strong>

A member of the ‘Novelty Group’ in the 10th House of Representatives, Hon. Kolawole Akinlayo (APC-Ekiti), has dismissed a report on the purported plan to impeach Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and other Body of Principal Officers.

In a Release made available to newsmen in Ado Ekiti, Hon. Akinlayo, however, confirmed the existence of the splinter group.

“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.

“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 that will be doing secret employment, and Parliamentarians will not be aware.

“It’s a serious disservice to me. 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.”