Edo Assembly Rejects Commmissioner's Brief

The Edo State House of Assembly on Monday rejected the brief by the Commissioner for Arts and Culture, Mrs Anena Jemitola, for the use of “uncouth language” on the floor of the House.

Jemitola had during a question and answer session asked an Assemblyman, Peter Aliu (ACN-Etsako-East), if he had used any of the hotel rooms built by the state government.

The Commissioner’s comment was based on the assemblyman’s question while seeking to know what became of the plan by the ministry to build a hotel within the Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre premises as a source of revenue generation.

She responded: “I was going to ask if the honourable member has used any of the rooms”, which drew the displeasure of other members.

Although Jemitola immediately explained that she meant it as a joke, the Majority Leader, Phillip Shaibu (ACN-Esatko-West 11), moved a motion, urging the house to reject her brief because of her unguarded comment

While Shaibu said that it was a joke taken too far, he added that it was high time the House began to stamp its authority to serve as deterrent to others who often took members and the House directives for granted.

“It was a joke taken too far, I request the House should reject the commissioner’s brief and set a fresh date for her to appear.”

The motion got the overwhelming support of members. The Speaker, Uyigue Igbe, as a result stepped down her brief to a later date.

Igbe ordered that Jemitola should submit 30 copies of apology letters to reach each member on or before Wednesday.

The Speaker also frowned at the failure of 11 commissioners of the existing 19 ministries to submit their briefs at the expiration of the given deadline.

Igbe ordered the defaulting ministries to do 30 copies of apology letters explaining why they refused to comply with the Assembly’s directive.

Earlier, Gov. Adams Oshiomhole had sent a letter to the Assembly for the re-instatement of Mr Aslem Ojezua as commissioner.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Oshiomhole suspended Ojezua as commissioner shortly after the April elections.

ACN lost elections in Edo Central Senatorial District where the commissioner hailed from.