Ondo Assembly Speaker Advocates Intensified Grassroots Orientation
By Awodeyi Elizabeth
The Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon.Chief Olamide Oladiji, has called for intensified public enlightenment efforts targeted at rural communities across the state.
The Speaker made this call while receiving the State Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA) , Mr James Adekunle and his team in his office on Tuesday.
He noted that increased grassroots education is essential to fostering civic responsibility, improving public participation in governance, and enhancing overall community development.
The Speaker appealed to the agency to expand its reach to rural communities, noting that those without internet access or smartphones often miss out on vital government information.
“People in rural areas who can’t afford phones or internet access need your services more. Please take your campaigns beyond the cities,” he urged.
The Speaker also charged the Agency to improve its feedback mechanism to ensure that the voices of citizens and lawmakers at the state level are effectively conveyed to the national level.
He commended the agency’s efforts in fostering unity, national development, and civic engagement, but emphasized the need for more effective communication between its state and national office.
“We appreciate your job in promoting national values, but we’ve not really been feeling your impact in terms of feedback. The voices and concerns from the states must be heard at the top,” the Speaker stated.
Oladiji emphasized that discussions during such visits must not end at the table but should be escalated for policy impact, insisting that failure to do so would amount to a “wasteful exercise.”
He further urged the agency to share the list and contacts of its representatives in local government areas to enhance collaboration with elected officials who represent those constituencies.
“You’re responsible for disseminating government programs and policies, but you need the support of grassroots representatives to be effective,” he said.
On security concerns, the Speaker raised alarm over rising cases of kidnapping, robbery, and cultism in the state, advocating for the establishment of state police as a lasting solution.
“It’s time to start the process of state policing.We’ve seen how effective the Amotekun Corps has been,” he said, drawing parallels with policing structures in the U.S. and U.K.
Oladiji also revealed that the Assembly had received a bill from the state governor prescribing the death penalty for cultism, particularly in schools. He assured of the lawmakers’ full support to curb the growing menace, especially among youths.
“The Governor has taken a bold step with a bill that recommends the death penalty for cultism, and we are backing it 100%. Cultism in schools is destroying our future,” he warned.
He concluded by requesting the prompt deployment of an experienced desk officer to be attached to the House of Assembly for effective public communication, stressing that lawmakers are key to maintaining peace and stability in the state.
“When we function effectively here, peace reigns across the state. We need your collaboration and improved support,” he added.
Earlier, the State Director of National Orientation Agency, Mr James Adekunle noted that NOA plays a dual role in governance by mobilizing citizens, including legislators in support of government initiatives while also conveying feedback from the populace back to the government for policy refinement and effective implementation.
He highlighted the agency’s new initiative, National Value Charter, aimed at reorienting Nigerians, especially the youth, on national values. As part of this, a nationwide campus debate has been launched, and the Speaker of the Assembly has been nominated by the agency’s national headquarters to serve as a panel judge.
Adekunle also announced plans to assign a desk officer to the Assembly to ensure accurate, timely communication between lawmakers and the public.
He stressed the importance of fostering stronger ties with lawmakers in order to improve awareness at the grassroots level. “We believe stronger synergy with the Assembly will help the people understand and support government efforts”.
COMMENTS