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| Dr Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe |
OLORIEGBE IN THE SENATE
Dr Ibrahim Yahaya
Oloriegbe after his landslide victory at the poll like his other 108 colleagues
resumed at the upper chamber of the National Assembly on the 11th of June 2019
to kick off the legislative journey of four years.
The first three months of
resumption between June – September 2019 were majorly used by the bureaucracy
of the National Assembly to prepare the legislators for the work ahead wherein
they proceed on leave for their working tools to be made ready and also went on
annual ten weeks summer recess after screening and approving Ministerial
nominees. While the activities of the legislature and indeed the whole country
was negatively affected by the outbreak of COVID-19 with the accompany lockdown
in last three month of this legislative year
It is, therefore, safe to
say the Senate has not been able to enjoy full year of legislative activities
during this first year and any assessment of performance should take this into
consideration
Distinguished Senator
Oloriegbe kicked off the ball of the 9th Senate on the 2nd July 2019 when he
moved "the first full conventional motion" by way of being listed on
the order paper of the 9th Senate. The motion, which was titled ‘The need to
Strengthen Security at the Nigerian Airports’ concerns Security at the Nigerian
Airports particularly for Muslims who travel to Saudi Arabia for lesser Hajj
and Hajj.
The significant context to
the motion was the unlawful arrest and conviction of two Nigerians for drug
trafficking because hard drugs were detected in their luggage planted by
unscrupulous drug cartels at the airport.
One of the victims, Zainab
Aliyu, was nearly killed in Saudi Arabia as a result of these activities of
drug cartel at the nation's airports that is a testament to the vulnerability
of the airports to all manner of crimes.
His motion got strongly
worded resolutions from the Senate some of which were that the drug cartel case
that almost led to the killing of Zainab Aliyu in Saudi Arabia, should be
pursued to its logical conclusion to serve as a deterrent to others and also
urged the Federal Airports Aviation of Nigeria and other agencies to ensure
that all those on duty when the case of Zainab happened must be held
accountable." The resultant effect of the motion was the strengthening of
security at Nigeria International airports and such incident has not been
reported again.
From that day onwards, the
eloquent and articulate Oloriegbe remains an active member of the Senate and
always have meaningful and developmental contributions to make during plenary
sessions.
At the same time, his
antecedents, qualifications and achievements as a medical professional of
international repute earned him the crown of the Chairman Senate Committee on
Health as well as Vice Chairman Senate Committee on NGOs and Diaspora. And thus
far, he has not disappointed in leading enviably from the front.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
The roles of lawmakers
under a democratic system of government worldwide are well defined and are
basically three; Legislation, Oversight and Representation. It is important to
note that not only is legislators’ roles and functions the most misunderstood
in Nigeria but also the need that their performance should and are better
assessed based on these three areas which can be classified as primary
responsibilities.
Though this misconception
and misunderstanding of legislators responsibilities abound nationwide, it
takes quite a peculiar note in Kwara state where for the past 40 years, the
state has been under the direct or indirect control of one family who dictates
how governance is and the situation was
made worse in the last 8 years when one man who was the “Godfather” of all
political office holders arrogated all achievements by political office holders
to himself. The citizens are therefore not able to differentiate between the
roles and responsibilities of any particular office holders as everything was
done and attributed to his name.
i.
Legislative/Lawmaking
ii. Oversight Function
iii. Representative
Function.
Putting Sen. Ibrahim Oloriegbe
into assessments using the above-listed metric would reveal that he is a
top-rated performer amongst his contemporaries.
LEGISLATIVE FUNCTIONS
Lawmakers are expected to
move motions, and sponsor bills (New or amended) that will thereof become laws
governing the land.
So far, the senator has
successfully moved five (5) motions, made five Personal Explanations,
co-sponsored more than (15) motions, sponsored (6) bills, and contributed to
debates on more than 10 Bills and motions. Two of his bills have passed second
reading and at the last stage of committee report which would have been
completed but for the COVID- 19 pandemic
Some of the motions, moved
by the Distinguished Senator are as follow:
.• The urgent need to make
the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) work for Nigerians. (3rd July
2019). And this led to the appointment of new Executive Secretary for the
NHIS and the accelerated consideration of the NHIS reform bill sponsored by the
Senator.
• The urgent need to
transfer back to the Federal Ministry of Health the Responsibility/Authority to
process all its Procurement Activities. The executive arm of government has
returned the Procurement functions back to the FMOH.
• Personal explanation on
the Covid-19 Pandemic where he called for the creation of more Isolation and
testing centers. Nigeria had just five
Testing centers at the time, (March 17th, 2020).
The bills sponsored
by the Senator are:
i. SB 65 National
Health Insurance Commission Bill, 2019
ii. SB 66: Mental Health
and Substance Abuse Bill, 2019
iii. SB 226: Federal
College of Education (Special) Afon, Kwara State (Est. Etc), 2019
iv. SB 376: Psychiatric
Hospital Act (Amendment) Bill, 2020
v. SB 394: Federal College
of Complementary and Alternative Medicine of Nigeria (Est) Bill, 2020
vi. SB 425: Complementary
and Alternative Medicine Practice Bill, 2020
Aside these bills, the Senator
has contributed to and co-sponsored numerous other motions one of which is the
Ijegun Pipeline Explosion: Urgent need to prevent pipeline vandalism and
explosion resulting in deaths and massive destruction of properties.
(Sponsored: Sen. Adeola Solomon Olamilekan (Lagos West) (10th July 2019).
His immense all-around
contributions on the Senate floor indicate without doubt that he is a
frontrunner amongst his contemporaries. Well known for his vibrancy, eloquence,
articulation and deeply rooted contributions to discussion on the floor of the
Senate; one can decide to qualify Oloriegbe's representation with any word, not
DOCILITY.
OVERSIGHT FUNCTIONS
The bureaucracy of the
National Assembly must have taken reflective insights into Oloriegbes background,
skills, competency and experience, and found him top of the crop before making
him the Chairman of Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary) and
Deputy Chairman Senate Committee on Diaspora, Civil Society and
Non-Governmental Organizations.
He is also a member of
other committees that include;
• Public Account.
• Local and Foreign Debts
• Communication
• Marine Transport
• Basic education
• Primary health
• Narcotics and Drugs
Abuse control
In the last one year,
Oloriegbe had led or participated in several oversight functions in these
committees and in other ad-hoc committees.
Some highlight of his
oversight activities includes the following;
Health Committee
He led a team of Senators
and Members of the HoRs to undertake a proactive tour of Airports and Seaports
to assess the Preparedness of the country for the eventual outbreak of Covid 19
Pandemic where he raised the issue of lack of preparedness in Abuja for
Isolation and treatment of any eventual case which led to the release of funds
to Port Health Services and preparation of isolation center in Abuja by the
NCDC.
He continuously provides
technical oversight on strategy and programs implementation to both the
Presidential Task Force and the Federal Ministry of Health.
In the health budget, he
instituted budgetary reform that ensured the inclusion of the following:
- Cancer funds for the
free treatment of Breast, Cervical and Prostate Cancers in Teaching Hospitals
in Nigeria.
- Increase in funds
allocated to Ready To Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF) for the management of
malnutrition in children under 5.
- Allocation of funds to
resuscitate the Accident and Emergency Center in University of Abuja Teaching
Hospital (Gwalgwalada) as well as the Accident and Emergency Center in FMC Iddo
Ekiti and FMC Keffi- in a bid to improve the delivery of services to Accident
victims along Abuja-Lokoja Road, Ilorin- Ekiti Road, and Abuja- Nasarawa Road.
- The allocation of funds
to resuscitate the moribund Bone Marrow Transplant Center in University of
Benin Teaching Hospital to ameliorate the sufferings of people suffering from
Sickle Cell Disease.
- The Basic Health Care
Provision Fund (BHCPF) is a major issue that he worked together with his
colleagues on during the year under review.
As chairman of the
Legislative Network for Universal Health Coverage, he brought in significant
reform to the Network by spearheading the development of a four-year
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA to set the key objectives for accomplishment by the NASS
Committee on Health.
Diaspora, CSOs & NGO
Committee
- He worked with his other
committee members in addressing the issue of challenges of insecurity
(Xenophobic attacks) affecting Nigerians resident in South Africa.
- He facilitated with
relevant agencies for the release of some Nigerians trafficked to countries
such as Egypt, Lebanon amongst others. This included the rescue of a Kwaran
resident.
- He led a team of NASS
members on the network of stakeholders working on developing Guidelines and
legislations for Ease of Clearing of Goods meant for Charitable use- it is an
initiative of Deputy Senate President- Distinguished Senator Ovie
OmoAgege.
REPRESENTATIVE
FUNCTIONS
Just as high-rated are his
legislative and oversight performances, so are his representative performances;
they remain topnotch. These include Infrastructure projects facilitation,
employment and empowerment facilitation.
Noteworthy is to point out
that Constituency Projects otherwise known as (Zonal Intervention Projects-ZIP)
like Capital Projects being implemented by the Executive arm are appropriated
in budget (Appropriation Act). The
projects implemented under this (ZIP) are nominated by lawmakers, have their funds domiciled in MDAs that will
execute them.
Unfortunately, out of
ignorance and mischiefs, many people, particularly, acolytes of the defeated
dynasty are deriding Oloriegbe of not facilitating projects. Where do they
expect him to get the money? Or get the Projects when the 2019 Budget was
already passed before the 9th Assembly resumed and it is the only
budget being implemented since July 2019 to date.
The implementation of 2020
budget is just starting and it is being affected by the COVID-19.
To educate the
mischief-makers, being a first-timer and inaugurated after the passage of the
2019 budget, the Senator had been excluded from nominating Projects in the year
2019 budget. Nonetheless, he has followed up to ensure that funds are released
for the effective and qualitative implementation of Capital and Constituency
Projects (ZIP) he inherited to ensure that Kwara Central money works for her
constituents.
This has however
undeservedly earned him the accusation of "glory hunter" by the
hirelings of his predecessor.
Some of the inherited
projects completed and ongoing are listed below:
2019 Project
Completed
- Construction and
Installation of seven (7) Solar Powered Borehole for seven Villages in Wara
Oshin Egbejila ward of Ilorin West Local Government.
- Construction of
Agricultural Laboratory and Supply of Agricultural Equipment in Ballah
Community School, Ilorin Kwara State.
- Provision of 100 units
Solar Street lights in Ilorin-West, South and East Kwara State.
- Flood and erosion
control at Ansarul Islam area, -Abata Asunkere (Okekere)- Ilorin West Local
Government.
- Construction of concrete
drainage and erosion control with asphalt road in Kamaldeen Adabiyyah- Medina
road, Abayawo area (Ojuekun Zarumi ward), Ilorin West LGA.
2019 Project Currently
Ongoing
- Construction of Erosion
Control Drainage at Abata Babaoyo Abata Oloduku Area Kwara.
- Construction of
Afon-Abayawo-Sapati Road, Kwara State Senatorial District.
- Construction of
Kilanko-ItaAisha- Alagbede (Behind Micheal Imodu Road), Kwara.
- Erosion Control at
Barakat Community Secondary School, Alfa Yahaya Road, Ilorin West.
2020 Projects
Facilitation
His projects facilitation
influence thus kicks off with the year 2020 budget, which he has done justice
to. The following are some of the projects facilitated in the 2020 budget.
• Provision of boreholes
and Repair of dysfunctional boreholes in Kwara Central Senatorial District.
.• Training, skill
acquisition, empowerment & provision of tools for unemployed youths and
women in Kwara Central Senatorial District.
• Training &
sensitization of youths /graduates on the use of ICT for employment purpose in
Kwara Central Senatorial District.
• Supply and Installation
of Transformers in Kwara Central Senatorial District.
• Training of Youth/Women
on Cassava and Poultry production in Kwara Central Senatorial District.
• Provision of School
Materials for Primary School Pupils in Kwara Central Senatorial District.
• Flood and Erosion
Control in Itamerin Alatoto Abata-Oluduku Street in Ilorin West Local Govt Area
of Kwara Central Senatorial District.
.• Provision of Medical
Outreach and Consumables for Health Facilities in Kwara Central Senatorial
District.
Job and Employment Facilitation
In the year under review,
the Distinguished Senator was able to facilitate employment opportunities for
many of his constituents in several Federal Institutions. These institutions
include but not limited to- University Teaching Hospitals, Federal Medical
Centers, NCDC, NAFDAC, NDLEA, NIPRD, NIDCOM, Health Regulatory Bodies, Ministry
of Niger Delta Affairs, Ministry of Women Affairs; Nigerian Police Force, Civil
Defence Corp, Arabic Training Institute etc. Most of the beneficiaries are
graduates and postgraduates, job seekers.
Currently, there are a
number of other applications in various stages of processing which we hope would
materialize soon by the grace of God.
When Oloriegbe on one of
his radio outings declared that within the period of his first 6 months as a
Senator, he had facilitated about forty (40) employment opportunities for his
constituents, many doubting Thomas took swipe at him with not only doubts but
also by tagging him "Sen. 40" with what they dubbed "Audio
Appointments", demanding for proofs.
Those of us who are close
to the Senator have the veritable facts of the claim. But, for the fact that disclosing
such evidence is not only a breach of confidentiality but will
be counterproductive to the future chances of facilitating employment for his
constituents.
Towards this end, we
decided not to join issue with the critics but to keep our eyes on the ball and
at an appropriate time the facts will speak glowingly for itself.
ESTABLISHMENT OF A
FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY STRUCTURE
In his bids to ensure
effective and optimal representation, information harnessing across his
constituency and providing essential feedback, the Senator set up a
well-equipped and functional office at No 3 Issa Elelu Street Odota Ilorin
where he hired staff to cover the entire geographical space of the
constituency. They include:
- 52 Male Ward Liaison
Officers (Los).
- 52 Female Ward Liaison
Officers.
- 4 Male Local Government
Liaison Officers (Coordinating the Ward Los).
- 4 Female Local
Government Liaison Officers.
- 8 Aides to cover
functional areas such as: Projects Monitoring, Media Relation, Community
Relation, Inter-Government Relation, Civil Society Organizations, Party
Relations, Youth and Women Affairs etc (these 8 are selected from the 4 LGAs
constituting the Constituency.
- A Senatorial District
Woman Coordinator.
- Overall Senatorial
District Coordinator.
Totally, there are 122
persons working (and are all drawing allowances) under the Kwara Central
Constituency office (exclusive of the five statutory aides paid for by the
NASS).
FEED
BACK TO CONSTITUENTS
For the first time in the history of Kwara State, the Senator
in January 2020 organized a Town Hall meeting to brief constituents on his
activities in 2019 and plan for 2020. The meeting was well attended by cross
section of critical stakeholders in the constituency. It was interactive as
well appreciated by the constituents
SPECIAL PROGRAMME TO ADDRESS YOUTH UNEMPOYMENT
Recognizing the challenge of unemployment among the most
populous and productive segment of his constituency (Youths), the Senator in
January 2020 organized a Youth Symposium to provide opportunities for youths in
the constituency to be empowered with necessary knowledge to think out of the
box to address the challenge of unemployment. The Symposium which had in
attendance entrepreneurs from the constituency was also used to identify youths
that will be supported with various training programmes and subsequent start up
support. The outcome of the symposium was the following empowerment
programs:
ü Digital marketing Training where the
trainees were provided with either phones or start-up capital.
ü Training on Rice Crop Processing and
Value Addition in collaboration with the National Cereals Research Institute,
Bacita. The trainees were given start-up capital to venture into different
stages of production.
ü Training on cosmetology with
participants provided with equipment to start their own establishment
ü Facilitating loans from NIRSAL for some
entrepreneurs that participated in the symposium
SOCIOECONOMIC AND
HUMANITARIAN RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE COMMUNITY
The distinguished had also
engaged in a series of corporate social responsibilities in the community.
Though these roles are not part of the primary roles of a legislature, they are
roles that most constituents seem to look up to and use to assess the
performance of a legislator.
To mention but few in
these categories:
- Small scale empowerment
for entrepreneurship ventures: providing support of 20,000- 50,000 Naira to
over 150 persons in his constituency to start small scale business.
- Renovation of the Garri
Processing Factory at Ita-Amo, Ilorin-West LGA that had been moribund for many
years. In addition to renovating the building and repairing equipment, he
provided working funds to the over 50 women working in the factory thus
enabling them to become self-employed and income generators.
- He supported the repair
of Boreholes at various locations across the constituency such as Oja-Tuntun
market Ilorin West LGA for the benefits of the market women.
- Construction of Borehole
in Awerijo Village (Awe Orimaro Ward) of ASA LGA.
- The Senator supported
his wife to organize many pet projects (through her NGO- MATTA FOUNDATION) this
includes and not limited to special training programs that empowered:
-30 women in Soap
Making,
-20 women in Baking,
10 girls in tailoring and
fashion design.
- Payment of JAMB
registration fee for over 300 Candidates from his constituency.
- Support for the
renovation of some dilapidated Schools in his constituency.
- Facilitation of
admission into Police Academy Kano for some applicants amongst his
constituents.
Oloriegbe's Efforts During COVID-19 Pandemics
i. The senator procured
and distributed hand sanitizers, gloves and facial masks to critical
stakeholders (Market women, Drivers, Journalists, etc) and the general public
in the (4) Local Government Area of his constituency.
ii. A cash distribution of
ove Five million Naira to Constituents in a bid to cushion the effects of the
Covid-19.
iii. Distribution of Food
palliatives to over 5000 households in the constituency.
iv. Donation of the sum of
Two Million Naira ₦2M to the Ilorin Emirate Palliative Fund aside other worthy
contributions to the similar project through other bodies.
v. Facilitated donation of
essential medical supplies relating to COVID-19 from Roche Pharmaceuticals to
the State built Isolation Centre in Sobi Specialist Hospital, Ilorin.
vi. Facilitated the
deployment of NCDCs Rapid Response Team to Kwara state within 24 hours of
detection of the first case in the state.
vii. Facilitation of NCDC
accredited testing centre to Kwara State in synergy with the state government.
This is under processing.
OLORIEGBE VS THE CRITICS
Criticism is a virile tool
of a working democracy. However, it is best and fairly used if deployed with
objectivity and sincerity.
Sen. Oloriegbe is
presently not having a good time with his critics, some of those who are
criticising him out of hatred and or ignorance. Majority of these critics are
much found on the streets of social media dishing out vague, insipid and
incoherent analysis. We have amongst them, the bootlickers of the goliath
electorally slain by Oloriegbe; we have the sympathizers of those wish to be in
Oloriegbe's position and we have those who would be fair in their comments if
they are factually guided. Unfortunately but not surprising that only the last
category will succumb to superior arguments, the other two will not and may
never no matter how hard one tries. They are those scripturally referred to as
"Deaf, dumb (and) blind, so they will not turn back" Quran Chapter 2
vs 18.
PROSPECTS
An assessment of Sen.
Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe representing Kwara Central at the Red Chamber of the
National Assembly if subjected to fair and objective analysis using right
indices will reveal that the Medical Doctor turned politician is a top-class
performer. He has an exceptional grade in his primary responsibilities with
good result in his secondary responsibilities which many are using to judge
him.
His track records, for the
first year as a Senator, placed him in enviable heights and there are no doubts
at all that if the comparison were to be done and his achievements placed
beside those of his predecessors, the sagacious Chairman of the 9th Senate
Committee on Health will be rated high.
This is not to say that it
is already "moment for feast and ballet". It is just one year of
statutory four, we can only hope and work toward having it better
onwards.
We should ensure we stand
counted in an efforts to redefine legislative representation through our
patriotic participation and constructive engagements devoid of sheer ignorance
and bland criticisms.
Oloriegbe is working. May
Oloriegbe Succeed!
Bolaji Aladie is the
Media Aide to Senator Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe
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