Autonomy to strengthen democratic norms in states, says Kogi speaker

Speaker of Kogi House of Assembly, Matthew Kolawole, yesterday said the financial autonomy recently granted houses of assembly and the judiciary will further strengthen democratic norms in the states.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) made the submission while addressing the people of Ogidi community in Ijumu Local Council of the state during their 2018 Ogidi Day celebration.

The speaker noted that in spite of the autonomy, the three arms of government will continue to work together for the overall development and benefit of the people and the country.

He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for taking the bold initiative to assent to the bill in the overall interest of the people.

Kolawole commended the festival organisers for their well-thought out mission and vision to put the event on the world map of tourism.

He stressed that the sixth Assembly was already working on a bill to reposition the tourism sector for better performance and make it one of the major contributors to the state’s income.

According to him, when the bill is passed, it will provide legal framework for the promotion of the sector, promising that the legislative arm would continue to make laws that promote good governance in the state.

Kolawole charged the Ogidi community to continue to support and cooperate with the current administration of Governor Yahaya Bello in its efforts to positively transform the state.

The Ologidi of Ogidi, Oba Rilwan Sule, thanked the speaker and indigenes of the community for making the 2018 edition of the yearly festival a success and called on the people to continue to support the government.

The monarch also charged politicians to play by the rules as the 2019 general elections fast approach.

He urged the youths not to allow themselves to be used as thugs and agents of destruction during the electioneering and the polls proper.