The Spokesman of the House of Representatives and member representing Ekiti North 1 (Ikole/Oye) Federal Constituency in Ekiti state, Akin Rotimi has appointed no fewer than 26 Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) as legislative aides for effective grassroots legislation in his constituency.

The PWDs, who will serve as contact persons are part of the 85 newly appointed Legislative Advisers and Assistants to enhance legislative representation in Ekiti North 1 Federal Constituency.

The lawmaker organised a one-day Retreat and Presentation of Appointment Letters to the legislative aides at the weekend in Ikole-Ekiti with the theme, “Building A Team That Leaves No One Behind.”

The retreat witnessed various presentations by resource persons on sub-topics such as; “Representative Grassroots Intelligence”, “Communication Strategies” and “Constituency Outreach.”

Speaking with journalists after the retreat, the lawmaker stated that the move is geared towards engaging the people at the grassroots level in participatory governance and representation.

Rotimi said that the appointed Focal Persons for PWDs is to recognize the importance of PWDs and ensure accessibility and representation for all members of his constituency, adding that they will play a crucial role in advocating for the rights and needs of PWDs within his constituency.

The Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs equally noted that the appointment of the legislative aides will serve as a channel for feedback mechanism from his constituents at the grassroots level.

He reiterated the commitment of the 10th House of Reps to deepen grassroots engagements and give meaning to the people’s mandate through effective representation.

According to him, “The 10th House of Representatives has it as our agenda to deepen grassroots engagements and constituency outreach. We are in a recess now, the House leadership took a strategic decision to go on a recess for Ramadan and Easter.

“What you are seeing here is the demonstration of our resolve not to be far from Nigerians, to give meaning to their mandate, to give meaning to representation. We had about 85 people we have engaged at the grassroots level. We have legislative advisers, legislative assistants, people with disabilities, contact focal persons at the grassroots in every single ward.

“So, what we had today is representation. It is the fact that we believe in representative democracy, we believe in the fact that they should be participatory governance. We had this session to build the capacity of grassroots stakeholders that have been appointed to be able to participate in what we are doing in the House of Representatives.

“It’s really about representation redefined. I believe very much in participatory governance, people at the grassroots taking a leap and being involved in issues that affects them. I have focal persons for PWDs in all the 24 wards. I have legislative assistants in every ward to ensure that we have a critical channel through which feedback comes and we can also reach them.

“People have complained in the past about legislators being very far away from them. We are changing that narrative. I am home every month, I have ward tours, stakeholders engagements. Now, I have taken it a step further to take that financial burden of engaging 85 people,” he added. (Nigerian Tribune)

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