Senator Solomon Adeola Holds 4th Edition Of Lagos West Town Hall Meeting, Empowers Constituents
MICHAEL AKINOLA
The Lawmaker representing Lagos West Senatorial District and Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, on Sunday 24th January, 2021, hosted the 4th Edition of the Lagos West Senatorial District Town Hall Meeting.
The event, which took place at Nigeria Police College, Ikeja, Lagos, was also an opportunity for the Distinguished Senator, Adeola, to reel out his achievements and equally empower his Constituents.
After the arrival of invited guests, Stakeholders of the Lagos Chapter of the All Progressives Congress and Traditional Rulers across the Senatorial District, the National Anthem followed by the opening prayers by Christian and Muslim leaders, marked the beginning of the programme.
The Lead Liaison Officer of Senator Adeola’s office then gave the Welcome Address to set the ball rolling. His address was followed by a video documentary highlighting the activities and achievements of the Distinguished Lawmaker within the Red Chambers of the National Assembly as well as oversight national duties across the country.
The Chief Host, Senator Adeola, used the opportunity of the Town Hall meeting to eulogise the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the members of the GAC and other APC leaders in the state, for considering him fit to represent the largest Senatorial District in Nigeria in terms of population.
After Senator Adeola’s remarks, the Chairman of APC in Lagos, Hon. Tunde Balogun, Chief Funsho Ologunde, Hon. Adejare, Hon. Bamigbetan, and many other leaders and representatives of leaders, took their turn in praising the Distinguished Senator for the enormity of work he has done for the Senatorial District, Lagos State and Nigeria at large, while urging him to continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people for believing in him.
Highpoint of the event was the presentation of power transformers to different community representatives and beneficiaries of numerous tools of empowerment to Constituents spread across the Lagos West Senatorial District. The Chief Host, Senator Adeola, was ably assisted by Hon Tunde Balogun, Traditional Rulers and Chieftains of the All Progressives Congress.
Senator Adeola’s Speech:
PROTOCOLS
1. It is with great pleasure that I once again stand before you all to deliver this address which intends to keep you abreast of my activities on your behalf in the Senate of the National Assembly as well as brief you on some issues of national importance that affects you in particular and Nigeria in general. Let me place it on record that this promised interaction was meant to come earlier than now as I stated during the 2019 electoral campaign but was delayed mostly due to the exigencies of the time, my personal involvement in national politics particularly as it relates to the struggle to enthrone a “Next Level” Leadership for the two chambers of the National Assembly and regrettably the emergence of COVID-19 global pandemic and its precautionary restrictive protocols.
2. As you are also aware I won in the electoral petition filed at the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal against the mandate you freely gave me on February 23, 2019. Nevertheless, I profusely apologize for this delay while it is on record that I interacted with some constituents during skills acquisition and grant programmes that I facilitated for women and youths in the period.
3. Let me start by thanking you all for your overwhelming endorsement before, during and after the 2019 Presidential and National Assembly Election which resulted in my re-election for a second term as your Senator and the election of majority APC candidates in Lagos state and beyond. I appreciate the confidence, trust and acceptance bestowed on me through the election. Going forward I will always strive to build on all those things that inspired your confidence and support for me. To all our leaders, most especially Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Alhaji Rabiu Oluwa, Elder Henry Ajomale, Cardinal Odumbaku, Dr. Yomi Finnih, Chief (Mrs) Kemi Nelson and a host of others, I say a big thank you for always finding me worthy to be presented as a representative at the highest level of governance in Nigeria.
4. With the 9th Senate fully constituted towards the end of 2019, I focused on the defining aspect of my work which is law making. In quick succession, I sponsored and successfully introduced 11 Bills, eight of them have undergone first reading while three has been read for the second time and committed to committees for further legislative work. They are listed for record in the Programme booklet. These bills dwell on educational development, constitutional and institutional development and human rights issues and hopefully will be passed into laws. I have also fully contributed to the passage of two critical and unprecedented Executive Bills namely, the Finance Acts 2019 and 2019 which forms a major aspect of funding the two Appropriation Acts of 2020 and 2021. From all indications the laws are regarded as revolutionary as it foresaw and took into account the shocks that COVID-19 and similar brought to Nigerian economy in terms of what is now stimulus to the economy following the devastation of COVID-19 pandemic.
5. In the area of oversight, I have successfully moved 6 motions that resulted in Senate Resolutions for which actions are being taken. These are the motion on Ijegun Pipeline Explosion; the motion on Abule-Ado, Amuwo-Odofin Explosion, the motion on Frequent Fire/Explosions in Lagos West Senatorial District, the motion to Reduce the Disparities between Lending and Deposit rates charged by commercial banks and other financial institutions and a commiseration motion for Senate to honour late Senator Munir Muse and another for late Senator Osinowo Adebayo. I also co-sponsored no less than 25 other motions that resulted in Senate Resolutions.
6. While playing a critical role in the crucial law making function of appropriation even under COVID-19, I reached out to indigent and vulnerable constituents for sustenance in lockdown necessitated by the precautionary measures of the pandemic. At the peak of the lockdown of the COVID-19, I donated N50million which was shared among individuals, groups and communities during the extended period of lockdown. Giving the dark cloud of 2020, I have since delivered many dividends of democracy for my constituents in some critical areas that will serve not only many people but useful for many years ahead.
7. In the area of provision of portable water, I facilitated 6 major water works in form of solar powered boreholes and water treatment plants in six (6) LGAs namely; Ikeja, Ifako-Ijaiye, Agege, Oshodi-Isolo, Mushin and Alimosho. These self- sustaining water projects are located in population centres in the LGAs like markets and residential areas. I also personally constructed 12 boreholes in public places and similar number of public toilets spread across the senatorial district.
8. Under human resources development I facilitated the training of hundreds of constituents in rural riverine communities of Lagos West in different aspects of Fish Production, Business, Feed Making and boat operation over a period of months. Each trained and certificated participants in a programme of “teach a man to fish” were equipped and giving grants to commence business. In addition, I facilitated the training of 1000 constituents in phone repairs, hair dressing, make up artistry, soap/detergent making and sanitizer making skills with participants receiving start up equipment and cash grants. For constituents desirous of establishment in the booming business of logistic and delivery, I gave out 185 motorcycles to constituents in each ward in the district. From today, I am also empowering selected constituents with 28 Block Molding Machines, 28 Refrigerators, 330 Sewing Machines, 484 Grinding Machines, 28 Hair Dryers, 28 Clipper Sterilizers and Generators, 28 Deep Freezers, 28 Tricycles (Keke Napeps) and 126 Vulcanizing Machines.
9. I also used the period under consideration to address the issue of erratic power supply and other inefficiencies in the provision of light as it affects the senatorial district. I facilitated the procurement of 28 units of 500 KVA Transformers which are being distributed to communities across the 10 LGAs of the senatorial district. Similarly, I facilitated the provision of 130 poles solar panel street lights which was distributed to 20 major streets in Ojo, Badagry, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Amuwo-Odofin, Ikeja, Alimosho, Mushin, Ifako Ijaiye, Oshodi-Isolo and Agege LGAs.
10. The educational sector equally got my attention under the 2020 Appropriation Act. Realizing that many teachers were not online/ICT compliant, I facilitated a one-week training for teachers in the state where the rudiment of online teaching were taught to over 147 teachers with due certification. I further donated two (2) HP Computer laptops to the school authorities of 36 selected schools for the purpose of assisting in online teaching. Equally I empowered 60 selected best students from secondary schools in Lagos West Senatorial District with computer laptops to encourage excellence. On provision of educational infrastructure, I facilitatedthe supply of 750 prefabricated chairs and desks for 13 public nursery and primary schools spread across Lagos West at Ojo, Badagry, Oshodi-Isolo, Mushin and Alimosho. Furthermore, I facilitated the construction and installation of a multi-million-naira Information, Communication and Technology(ICT) centres in two public secondary schools in his district namely Ikotun Senior High School, Ikotun and Muslim College, Egbe. This brings the number of such centres that I facilitated to six as four of such were done by me in the 8th Senate. I also facilitated the ongoing construction of state of art Public Library at Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Ijanikin, Lagos State which is nearing completion.
11. I must also mention that in course of last year I facilitated employment in Federal Agencies to no less than 20 constituents, ensured that over 100 constituents benefitted from CBN loans to cushion effects of the impact of COVID-19 on businesses from sums ranging from N250,000 to N5million.
12. So far in the 9th Senate I was appointed as the chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance and member of Appropriation, Health Institutions, Science and Technology, Inter-Parliamentary and Aviation Committees as well as a member of the Governing Board of the Nigeria Institute Legislative and Democratic Studies representing the South West geo-political zone. I am also one of the two Senators from South West representing the Senate in Our Party, APC National Executive Committee.
13. As usual, I have continued my goodwill measures for constituents during festive periods of Ileya Festival and Yuletide while reaching out to indigent constituents as much as possible with limited resources for our vast senatorial district.
CONCLUSION
My dear constituents, the above are summary of my stewardship on your behalf so far. In relation to our huge population, the above might be a drop in the ocean relative to the huge need to be met in our humongous senatorial district. I am however reassured that across the nation, we did not fare badly in delivery of democracy dividends relative to our population size that is skewed against us in a Nigerian Federation. From all indications the future can only get better for the largest senatorial district in Nigeria. I will continue to do my best to protect the interest of my constituents. For many that are yet to benefit directly from empowerment and other schemes, the door is not close as the exercises are continuous and will always be equitable among our diverse 10 LGAs and 18 LCDAs. It is my pledge to continue to serve you.
Long Live Lagos West Senatorial District!
Long Live Lagos State!
Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
Signed:
Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola FCA, FCITN (YAYI)
Lagos West Senatorial District
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