Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, on Tuesday signed eight bills into law, including the Ekiti State Development and Investment Promotion Agency Law 2019, which is designed to attract investors to the state.

Other laws that were assented to by the Governor were: the Ekiti State Administration of Civil Justice law 2019; Ekiti State Property Protection (Anti land grabbing law) 2019; College of Agriculture and Technology, Isan Ekiti Re-enactment Law 2019; Ekiti State Security Trust Fund Amendment Law 2019; 2019 Local Government Appropriation Law; Ekiti State Change of Government Official Logo Law 2019; and Ekiti State Waste Management Authority Repeal Law 2019.

The Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeniran Alagbada, accompanied by the Clerk and other members of the House presented the documents to the Governor for his assent, in what he described as the last assignment of the outgoing Assembly.

Speaking after signing the bills to law, Governor Fayemi emphasised the significance of each of the new laws, which according to him, were aimed at repositioning the state towards delivering benefits of democracy to the people.

He said: “The Ekiti Development and investment promotion agency law for example, will enable us to utilise all of the resources that are at our disposal to interest those who want to help us restore Ekiti as a destination for investing into reality. The administration of civil justice law is actually the very first one in Nigeria, so you are making a history in that way. And this Assembly will go down in history as the pioneer of that bill.

“All of these laws are extremely important to help us as a state to toe the path of rule of law and to ensure that whatever we do we are doing it in accordance with the provisions of the law.”

Dr Fayemi commended the lawmakers for their unrivalled cooperation and commitments to the course of Ekiti project since the inception of his administration in October last year, describing them as a group of very patriotic Ekiti sons and daughters, who put the interest of the state above partisan interest.

Describing the occasion as a valedictory ceremony for the lawmakers, Governor Fayemi said the robust relationship between the executive and the legislature was unparalleled in the history of the state, adding that he their legacy of service would stand the test of time, even as they bow out of office in less than 24 hours.

The Governor said: “It gives me great pleasure to be at this altogether valedictory ceremony of the Ekiti State House of Assembly. History is made in different form, but I consider the partnership between the executive and the legislature in our state as an historic partnership. I have a lot to thank the honourable members for their extra-ordinary cooperation. I always say that the Ekiti party is quite different from the traditional party and you are all exemplar of the party.

“This is also unprecedented, I cannot recall any occasion in the last twenty years of our democratic experience where at one go we are signing into law eight bills at an occasion, we may have done four or five but not eight.

“As you complete your assignment, in this last four years, I know that this is not the end of the road for you and I’m convinced giving the way that you have taking your assignment in the last seven to eight months of our partnership that the best is yet to come for all of you.” Earlier the Speaker of the House, Hon Alagbada, had lauded the Governor cordial relationship that exists between the executive and legislative arms of government in the state.

He said Governor Fayemi had demonstrated the spirit of statesmanship in handling the affairs of the state, adding that the governor provided a conducive atmosphere for them to perform their statutory duties, hence their massive support for the administration.

The highpoint of the brief ceremony was the presence of four members of the House that were recently recalled from suspension following the Governor’s intervention. The four lawmakers, appreciated the Governor for his intervention which made it possible for them to join their colleagues for the concluding part of the fifth Assembly.

In another development, Governor Fayemi has congratulated Muslim faithful in the state and in the country in general on the celebration of the Eid-el-Fitri, which marks the end of the Ramadan period.

The Governor in his Eid-el-Fitri message, in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, congratulated Muslims on the successful completion of the Ramadan fast, stressing that witnessing another Eid-el-Fitri is a special privilege from the Almighty Allah and not by power or might.

Fayemi said the 30-day spiritual exercise had drawn the faithful closer to Allah. He therefore urged them to put all the lessons learnt during the holy month into good use, especially in their daily dealings with fellow citizens.

He said current situation in the country and in the world at large has made it imperative for Muslims and adherents of other religions to live in love, peace and harmony with one another so that they can collectively confront and arrest the menace of violence and banditry.

The Governor said prayers by the faithful are needed more than ever for God’s intervention in the affairs of the country, even as he expressed confidence in the ability of God to prosper and keep the country in answer to the sincere prayers of the faithful.

Fayemi, who commended Muslims in the state for their unflinching support for his administration through prayers, counsel and active participation in governance, also appreciated the Muslim Ummah for their contributions to the religious harmony being enjoyed in the state.

He urged adherents of all religions in the state to join the government in promoting peace and orderliness and in restoring the core values of honesty, honour, hard work for which the state was renowned.

“On behalf of the government and Ekitikete, I congratulate the Muslim Ummah on the Eid-el- Fitri celebration, and pray that God Almighty will accept our prayers and grant all our heart desires, even as he preserves our lives to witness many more celebrations,” the statement added.

•Photo shows Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, flanked by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt.Hon. Adeniran Alagbada (left) ; Secretary to the State Government, Mr Biodun Oyebanji (right) and members of the House of Assembly (standing behind), when the Governor assented to eight laws recently passed by the Assembly in Ado-Ekiti…on Tuesday.

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