The Osun State House of Assembly has begun the screening of commissioner nominees whose names were forwarded to it last week by Governor Gboyega Oyetola.
Among the nominees screened are the former President, Nigeria Guild of Editors, Mrs. Funke Egbemode, former Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovations, Mr. Oluremi Omowaye, Oladoyin Olayinka Folorunso, Ibitoye Felix Adeniran and Adebisi Obawale Simeon.
Others are Oladepo Solagbade Atanda, Ajisefini Abiodun, Ogunfolaju Christiana Olusola and Nathaniel Agunbiade.
Responding to questions from the lawmakers, Egbemode promised to build a healthy relationship between the government and the media if deployed to head the information ministry.
Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Timothy Owoeye had assured that the legislature would do a thorough and strict job on the screening of commissioner/special adviser nominees.
He said the Assembly had resolved that the screening exercise would not be a “tea party”, adding that members were in high spirit and ready to give their all for the good of the state.
Owoeye, however, said that the House is not oblivious that the nominees would have gone through different levels of security checks, saying aside such checks, the lawmakers would not shy away from its constitutional responsibility.
According to him, “it is on record that Governor Oyetola has sent a list of 35 persons to be screened as Commissioners/ Special advisers. I and my colleagues at the Assembly have resolved not to betray the confidence reposed in us by the public.”
“We are not unmindful of other screenings that might have taken place before now, but the State House of Assembly is constitutionally saddled with the final screening. We assure our people of Osun that we will do our job without favour, nothing but the interest of our state,” Owoeye remarked.