The Ekiti State House of Assembly has intensified its oversight of government projects across the state, with lawmakers conducting physical inspections of major infrastructure projects to verify their level of implementation and compliance with approved standards.
The exercise was designed to enable the lawmakers to independently assess projects rather than rely solely on reports submitted by Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Local Governments, tertiary institutions and other government establishments.
The exercise followed a directive by the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, during a recent plenary session where government establishments presented their stewardship accounts. The Speaker had directed lawmakers to visit project sites and verify the claims contained in the submissions made by the various institutions.
In a statement signed by Olasunkanmi Ekundayo, ANIPR, Director of Information Services, Ekiti State House of Assembly, the lawmakers were divided into three teams to cover different project locations across the state.
Aribasoye said physical inspection was an essential component of legislative oversight, urging members of the Assembly to engage contractors, engineers and other personnel at project sites during their inspections in order to establish the actual circumstances surrounding each project and identify obstacles requiring government intervention.
One of the teams, led by the Chairman, Hon. Oluwole Akanle, inspected facilities at the Ekiti Cargo Airport as part of the exercise.
Akanle described the airport as a major infrastructure investment with the potential to contribute to the state’s economic development by improving connectivity and creating opportunities for trade and other commercial activities.
The lawmakers also visited the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), where they inspected the newly constructed 80-room apartment and other multipurpose medical facilities.
The inspection covered the wards, theatre and other sections of the facility as the lawmakers assessed the readiness of the infrastructure to support healthcare delivery.
They also examined provisions for electricity and water supply, medical gas installations, waste management and accessibility for persons living with disabilities.
Separately, the House Committee on Works, led by Hon. Anthony Adaramodu, inspected ongoing road construction projects across the three senatorial districts.
The projects visited included the 18.5 kilometre Ilawe-Erijiyan-Ikogosi Road, 17.450 kilometre Ido-Ile-Ajido-Okemesi-Ikoro Road, 4.96 kilometre Ikogosi Township Roads and the Oke Ayedun-Esun-Ipao Ekiti Road.
Adaramodu warned that the Seventh Assembly would not ignore situations where contractors failed to execute government projects in line with approved specifications and required standards.
