ARIBASOYE URGES QUALITY SERVICE AS EKITI ASSEMBLY CONFIRMS AJIBOLA AS CLERK

The Ekiti State House of Assembly has confirmed Barr. Opeyemi Ajibola as the 8th Substantive Clerk of the House.

His confirmation followed his appointment on Monday by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, who exercised his powers under Section 9(1) of the Ekiti State House of Assembly Commission Law, 2022, which empowers the Speaker to appoint a Clerk from among the senior management staff of the Assembly.

In his remarks, the Speaker described Barr. Ajibola as an officer who has consistently demonstrated commendable capabilities, prompt performance, a passion for quality service, and a commitment to institutional growth.

Aribasoye who led him in taking the oath of office, noted that Ajibola’s diligence and contributions had not gone unnoticed, urging him to sustain his zeal and dedication as he assumes greater responsibilities.

Barr. Ajibola succeeds Mrs. Titilope Agbede, who bowed out of service on October 31, 2025, after an illustrious 35-year career in the Legislative Service.

Before his confirmation, Ajibola had served as Acting Clerk between May 30 and August 20, 2024, and was the Deputy Clerk (Legal Matters) prior to his new appointment.

All 24 lawmakers present at the plenary unanimously endorsed his confirmation, offering complimentary remarks about his dedication, humility, confidence, competence, and capacity.

Ajibola joined the Legislative Service as a Senior Legislative Counsel in the Legislative Drafting and Legal Services Department of the Ekiti State House of Assembly in October 2011. 

Meanwhile, the Assembly has commenced debate on the 2026 Appropriation Bill, tagged “Budget of Sustainable Impact.”

Presiding over the session, Speaker Aribasoye emphasized the need for lawmakers to critically appraise the state’s financial plans, possible borrowing and its implications, policy priorities, ongoing projects, and justifications for new proposals.

He charged his colleagues to ensure thorough grilling of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) as they appear to defend their budgets, warning that the “copy and paste” approach to budget defence would no longer be tolerated.

Aribasoye charged the legislators to boldly live up to their oversight roles by scrutinizing the budget and ensuring a robust defence process, adding that politics must be separated from the budget process in the overall interest of the state.

Other members who contributed to the debate underscored the need for an expeditious passage of the bill while ensuring a comprehensive and robust deliberation. 

They identified key areas captured in the bill, including agriculture, health, education, road infrastructure, poverty alleviation, and human capital development, aligning with the pre-budget interface the Governor held across all senatorial districts.

The lawmakers also reiterated the pressing needs of their constituencies and the sectors they oversee, noting that debates in the coming days would further refine and strengthen the fiscal document.

The Speaker subsequently committed the bill to the Committee on Finance and Appropriation, while the Chairman of the Committee presented the report on the 2025 budget.