Parliament Spotlight: Olubunmi Adelugba | Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly

After one week of tension in the State Assembly, seventeen out of the 25-member House on November 21, 2022 elected a first-term member as the first female Speaker in its history. This edition of Parliament Spotlight profiles the new head of the Ekiti legislature 

 

Pioneer Commissioner for Labour and Human Capital Development, former Chief Whip and first-term lawmaker, she has made history as the first woman since the creation of her state to occupy the seat of Speaker in the State Legislature.  

Interestingly, this is coming few months after she lost the House of Representatives primaries of her party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). There’s indeed, more to know about the newly-elected Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Olubunmi Adelugba.

LEGISLATIVE PROFILE 

• Member representing Emure State Constituency (2019- date)
  Ekiti State House of Assembly
  All Progressives Congress (APC)
• Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation
  Ekiti State House of Assembly
• Chief Whip
  Ekiti State House of Assembly
• Speaker (21st November 2022 till date)
  Ekiti State House of Assembly

  
  READ ALSO: Ekiti Assembly elects Adelugba as first female Speaker | The News Roundup

       MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS (LEGISLATURE)

• Under her leadership, the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation facilitated the passage of the Ekiti State Statistical Bill (2019), which will promote the use of statistical data and information at every level of government.
• The bill also promotes the use of best practices and standards in statistical production, management and dissemination.
• Hon. Adelugba, in July 2021, facilitated the development of two blocks of classrooms to Emure Government Science College, Skills and Entrepreneurial centre and an ultra-modern toilet facility at the Emure Police Station.
• The entrepreneurial centre was built and equipped with sewing machines, gas cylinders, cabinets, knitting machines and other training tools for our youths to acquire skills for self-employment.
• Adelugba is the first woman to occupy the seat of Speaker in the State House of Assembly since the creation of Ekiti State in 1996.

      MAJOR CONTROVERSIES (LEGISLATURE)

• Adelugba, believed to be the choice of a former Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi, is widely reported to have emerged Speaker under controversial circumstances.
  
• Her election as Speaker came after a six-day siege on the Assembly complex following the election of a new Speaker believed not to be a favourite of her party’s state chapter.
• She presided over the suspension of the former speaker and six other lawmakers who were also barred from getting anywhere close to the premises of the Assembly Complex.
  

READ ALSO: Parliament Spotlight: Sheriff Oborevwori | Speaker, Delta House of Assembly

 

      EXECUTIVE PROFILE

• Commissioner for Labour, Productivity and Human Capital Development (2010 -2011)
  Ekiti State Executive Council
• Special Adviser, Revenue Matters and Taxation (March – September 2012)
  Ekiti State Executive Council

       ACHIEVEMENTS

• Adelugba was the pioneer Commissioner for Labour, Productivity and Human Capital Development.
• As  Honourable Commissioner, the payment of monthly stipends to the elderly in the state started under her headship of the Ministry.
• As Special Adviser, she is said to have made quality contributions that led to a remarkable increase in the State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

  READ ALSO: Parliament Spotlight: Titus Tyoapine Uba | Speaker, Benue State House of Assembly

       POLITICAL PROFILE

• Aspirant, Ekiti South Federal Constituency II Seat (2022)
  All Progressives Congress (APC)