The lawmaker representing Ijebu North/Ijebu East/Ogun Waterside Federal Constituency in the 10th National Assembly, Hon. (Engr) Joseph Folorunsho Adegbesan,said that he has sponsored seven bills, three motions, while he has completed nine inherited projects and ten self-funded projects within six months in office.
This was disclosed by the Federal lawmaker during an interview with journalists in Awa Ijebu, Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State to give account of the Honourable’s stewardship to his constituents.
He revealed that the sponsored bills and motion were meant to enhance food productivity and security, improve agricultural business in his Federal constituency’s area of comparative advantage, and to improve the infrastructural needs of his constituents.
According to Adegbesan, “Out of the seven bills, four of the bills had been passed for the first reading and gazetted for second reading in National Assembly Journal of 7th November, 2023. The bills gazetted for second reading are; Bill for an Act to Amend the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria Act, Cap A 12, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, to make provision for the Establishment of the National Institute of Rubber Research and Technology Ilushin, Ogun State, Bill for an Act to Establish the National Institute of Construction Technology and Management, Itele Ogun State, bill for an Act to Amend the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria Act, Cap A 12, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, to make provision for the Establishment of National Institute for Oil Palm Research, Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State and bill for an Act to Establish the Federal College of Nursing and Midwifery, Awa- Ijebu, Ogun State.
“Other bills that had been passed for the first reading includes, bill for an Act to Establish the National Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture Studies, Abigi Ogun State, bill for an Act to Establish the National Institute of Construction Technology and Management, Itele Ogun State, bill for an Act to Establish the National Ear Care Centre Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State and bill for an Act to Establish the National Vocational Training Centres Across the 774 Local Government Area with Headquarters in Itele Ogun State.”
In his words, the lawmaker reiterated that within his first six months in office, he has sponsored three motions, which includes, motion on the need to Restored Electricity Supply to Affected Communities in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of Ogun State, motion on the Need to Complete the Abandoned Ayede-Ayila-Efire Road Spur Ondo State and motion on the Need to reconstruct Oke Owa-Ilese-ijebu mushin-Ijebu Ife-Itele-Ogbere-Imobi road In Ijebu East Local Government Area Of Ogun State. All these motions are receiving appropriate attention from the concerned ministry and he promised to continue to monitor their progress until Federal government or its agencies do the needful.
” I am glad to inform you that, through my office, I have facilitated the employment of ten youths from my constituents into Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Ogun State Civil Service Commission. I have also facilitated the admission of our qualified students in my constituency into our state – owned tertiary institutions.” he emphasiszed.
Hon. Adegbesan highlighted the self-funded projects he has undertaken within his six months in office. These projects include the construction of 20 lock-up shops at Atikori Market, Ijebu Igbo, the procurement of 101 of 2023 NECO GCE forms for Ogun Waterside Local Government students,and the sponsorship of free holiday coaching for secondary school students in JSS1-SS3 classes. Additionally, he has sponsored the payment of 2024 May/June WAEC fees of one hundred indigent students in Ijebu North/Ijebu East/Ogun Waterside Federal Constituency. The construction of the Molusi College Internal/Access road, with crushed stone base course and asphalt surface is also completed.
Furthermore, Hon. Adegbesan has sunk a borehole at the proposed Nigerian Police Area Command in Ijebu Igbo and two hundred and fifty chairs and desks has been donated to St. Kizito High School, Iwopin. These projects, he emphasized, were all self-funded initiatives.
Regarding inherited projects from his predecessor, Hon Adegbesan explained that he has successfully completed the construction of a block of three classrooms at Local Government Primary School in Adegorunshen, Ago Iwoye. The construction of Shala-Ereke rural earth road with 50metres drainage on both sides from Efunseke Cresent to Shalla, Ago Iwoye has also been completed. The construction of a block three classrooms at Isomu Community School, Owu – Ikija is currently ongoing.
Additionally, Hon. Adegbesan has provided a Tractor to Egbe Agbẹ Parapọ̀, Ijebu Igbo, installed 100 solar-powered light at Molusi College Road, and at other locations in Ijebu Igbo, he has constructed a bus shed at Mamu Ijebu, constructed a bus shed at Ijebu Igbo and provided a jetty at Oni Waterways in Ogun Waterside Local Government.
Speaking on his oversight functions, the House Deputy Chairman on Youth Development, said he has embarked on a journey with his colleagues to inspect facilities at various Youth Orientation camps and understand the challenges of the Corps members in their various orientation camp.
“As a member of Ad-hoc Committee on tax incentive abuse, tax breaks and tax waivers by public institutions and companies, we’ve investigated the extent of tax incentive abuse by public institutions and organizations, reviewed relevant legislation, policies and regulations governing these incentives, loopholes or weaknesses of the incentives were identified so as to end all forms of economic sabotage and ensure transparency, accountability, and fairness in the Nigerian tax system. In addition to my oversight function, I was a member of House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee that visited and investigated the alleged slow pace of Ijebu-Igbo Ibadan Road project and which is now receiving Federal Government attention” he said.
Regarding the effect of subsidy removal, Adegbesan said many steps have been taken to inform his constituents about the benefits of the subsidy removal and has reassured them that while he also assured them that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has the nation’s best interest in mind.
He restated his dedication to support his constituents to ameliorate the effects of the subsidy removal.
To cushion the effects of subsidy removal, which has seriously brought economic hardship to his constituents and Nigeria at large,” I have supported my constituents by distributing food items which include; bags of rice, beans, cash and chickens to those in need. I also launched an initiative tagged, Alaanu lọmọ Elderly Support Scheme, the initiative is an economic empowerment programme for the well-being of elderly citizens drawn from the three local government in my Federal Constituency. The elderly support scheme offered senior citizens free medical screening, drugs, cash and gift items to cushion the effect of economic situations and alleviate the burdens of these senior constituents during yuletide season. I don’t stop at that, I have extended financial assistance to various groups, individuals and Community Development Associations (CDA) in order to mitigate the hardships experienced by the residents” he concluded.