Spokesman of House of Representatives Akin Rotimi has appointed 85 legislative aides to assist him in providing effective representation to his constituents.
The legislative aides include 26 physically challenged persons who will serve as contact persons in Ekiti North federal constituency 1.
Presenting appointment letters to all 85 aides on Friday in Ikole-Ekiti at a one-day retreat for the legislative aides, Rotimi said appointments were to ensure quality and effective delivery of the dividends of good governance to the people.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs added that the appointment will serve as a channel for feedback and deepen participatory democracy at the grassroots level.
Rotimi restated the commitment of the 10th House of Representatives to enact people-oriented laws and deepen engagements with the people for sustainable growth and development.
He said: “The current 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, and 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 there 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 affect 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.
