By Kayode Odunaro
Still on the renewed four years mandate of Senator Solomon Adeola popularly called Yayi that kicked off on June 11th, 2019 with the election of Senator Ahmad Lawan as the President of the Senate and Chairman of the National Assembly, June 11, 2021 marked yet another important milestone for elected legislators of the 9th National Assembly.
A continued mid-term assessment of tenure for legislators is therefore appropriate for any legislators to know if they are living up to expectation of their constituents even in the face of huge challenges facing government at all levels.
In the area of representation Senator Adeola has in the last two years discharged his mandate most creditably to his constituents. As at the last count he has facilitated graduate federal employment for no less than 30 youths in some federal agencies in face of massive unemployment confronting the nation. When COVID-19 pandemic broke out in 2020 and Lagos became the epicenter with a federal lockdown, the issue of palliatives for indigent constituents became a task that must be done even in absence of any budgetary provision for same. In cognizance of the precautionary measures reeled out by Federal Government, Senator Adeola donated a whopping N50 million to indigent persons and groups in the largest senatorial district of 20 million across 10 Local Government areas of his district. Over 10,000 constituents, groups and leaders benefitted from the donation with sharing ranging from N2500 at the lowest for individuals to a maximum of N250, 000 for groups. As part of the palliative during ease of lockdown, Senator Adeola in conjunction with the Lagos State Government also distributed food items like rice, beans and garri for constituents while the lockdown lasted as well as token GSM recharge credits for communication purposes for constituents.
With the ease of lockdown, Senator Adeola held the 4th Edition of his Town Hall /Empowerment meeting on January 24, 2021 at Police College, Ikeja to brief constituent of his activities as well as officially hand over several units of 500KVA Transformers, Block Molding Machines and Tricycles. Other facilitated items distributed equitably among LGA/LCDAs, trades and ethnic groups are hundreds of sewing machines, grinding machines, deep freezers, vulcanizing machines, motorcycles, vehicles and saloon and beauty equipment. In addition to transformers the senator facilitated the provision of 150 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.
Under the kitty for Senator Adeola in the last two years are skills acquisition and entrepreneurship training for over 4000 women and youths across his ten LGAs. Still under human resources development the senator 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 participant in a programme of “teach a man to fish” were equipped and giving grants to commence business and many of them are doing well in the business.
In addition, he facilitated the training of over 1500 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.
Senator Adeola also facilitated construction of at least 40 boreholes for the provision of water with at least 10 having water treatment components and steel overhead tanks as well as being powered by solar panels. Still on projects that falls within executive functions but which legislators often weigh in to assist the executive the Senator Adeola facilitated the reconstruction and rehabilitation of 9 major roads in Lagos West namely: Oko-Afo Ilogbo Road in Olorunda, Badagry LGA, Akpata Street, Alfa Nla, Agege LGA, Adebimpe Street, Alimosho LGA, Ifelodun/ Tanimola Street, Ilasamaja, Oshodi Isolo LGA(Ongoing), Muyibi Street, Ajegunle, Ajeromi Ifelodun LGA (Ongoing), Nwafor Orizu/Lanre Mohamed/Olagoke/Bello Street, Shodipo Street, Olusosun, Off Kudirat Abiola Way, Ikeja(ongoing), Ojoowere/Shosanya Street(Ongoing), and Fajumobi/Ponle Street, Egbeda(ongoing).
In addition to pursuit of his educational legislative agenda which saw him sponsoring three tertiary education institution bills, two of which were passed by the Senate while a third is awaiting approval, Senator Adeola in two years facilitated a one-week training for teachers in the state where the rudiment of online teaching was taught to over 147 teachers with due certification. He further donated two (2) HP Computer laptops to the school authorities of 36 selected schools for the purpose of assisting in online teaching as well as empowered 60 selected best students from secondary schools in Lagos West Senatorial District with computer laptops to encourage excellence.
Still on educational infrastructure, Senator Adeola facilitated the 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 as well as 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 he has facilitated as a Senator to six as four of such were done by him in the 8th Senate. Finally, he facilitated the construction of state of art Public Library at Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Ijanikin, Lagos State.
Finally, the senator has continued his usual goodwill gesture for constituents during festive period like Yuletide as well as Muslim festivities by reaching out to constituents in cash and kind across the senatorial district. No doubt Senator Adeola midterm score card is a shining example of effective representation and delivering of dividends of democracy for a senator representing the largest senatorial district in Nigeria in terms of population of some 12 million. All things being equal, the second half can only get better with many more constituents and communities being positively impacted. Concluded
Chief Kayode Odunaro
Media Adviser to Senator Adeola.
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