Hon Abiola Makinde’s Attendance Record: We are Processing Your Requests, National Assembly Writes Ekimogun Roundtable
The National Assembly through the office of the Clerk has written to the Ekimogun Roundtable of its intention to make available all requested information pertaining to Hon. Peter Abiola Makinde, Member, representing Ondo East/West Federal Constituency at the National Assembly.
According to a statement made available by the acting secretary of the group, Ms Christiana Ayodele, the letter signed by the National Assembly’s Director of Legal Services was received by the leadership of the Roundtable on Friday 24th of January 2025 and reads in part ‘’I am directed to inform you that the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA) is in receipt of your letter. Your request is being processed. We therefore request that you give us sometime to make available the information you requested for. Accept the regards of the CNA’’
Recall that Ekimogun Roundtable, a socioeconomic group of all Ondo indigenes both home and abroad had written to the National Assembly requesting for all necessary information pertaining to the plenary attendance record of Hon. Makinde in line with section 68(f) of the 1999 Constitution which expressly states the number of days a federal lawmaker should be physically present during plenary.
Other information requested by the Roundtable included documentary evidence showing that Hon. Abiola Makinde, during his foreign trips duly complied with the House Standing Order 3 (1,2 and 3) mandating any federal lawmaker to, at the commencement of each legislative session or as soon as he has taken his seat, enter his name and address in a book kept by the Clerk of the House for the purpose of legislative attendance record for possible scrutiny by constituents. The section also compel junketing lawmakers travelling outside the country to inform the Speaker and must indicate the purpose, time abroad and his whereabouts.
The Roundtable commended the National Assembly for demonstrating high level of transparency and responsibility by supporting the group in its quest to hold its representative accountable.
Ekimogun Roundtable however, reminded the National Assembly that the Freedom of Information Act 2011 stipulates the timeline within which all requests for information must be attended to, and the group has already commenced all necessary and due legal processes at ensuring that the information are released within constitutionally stipulated timeline, while holding the National Assembly in highest esteem.
‘’We are conducting a general house cleaning, the people of the constituency have been unduly shortchanged for too long as a result of misrepresentation and prolonged absenteeism by our elected officials, with several billions lost in misconceived and or misappropriated constituency projects/fund, hence there is the need to hold our representatives accountable across board starting from their record of attendance which is the most fundamental.” Ms Christiana concluded.
