By Ayo Yusuf
After more than seven months in office, in defiance of the amended constitution which insists that commissioners, like ministers, must be named within the first two months of a new government, Governor Ademola Adeleke has finally nominated his commissioners.
The list of 25 commissioners sent to the Osun State House of Assembly Friday contains two former commissioners who served during the tenure of Rauf Aregebsola as the state governor.
The two members of Aregbesola’s cabinet in the list are Mr. Kolapo Alimi, who served as Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and Mr. Biyi Odunlade, who was Special Adviser and later Commissioner for Sports.
The Osun State House of Assembly Speaker, Adewale Egbedun, read out the names as contained in the letter sent to the lawmakers by Governor Ademola Adeleke at the plenary on Friday.
According to his Chief Press Secretary, Olamide Tiamiyu, “The House of Assembly has also set up an Ad-Hoc Committee to conduct a preliminary screening of the nominees before they will appear before the House for full screening and confirmation. The process will be completed in good time.”
Governor Adeleke, who took oath of office on November 27, 2022, has been running the government without a cabinet, a move that has brought him serious criticism from the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
A new amendment to the Nigerian Constitution requires the president and governors to submit the names of persons nominated as ministers or commissioners within sixty days of taking the oath of office for confirmation by the Senate or State House of Assembly as the case may be.
However, Governor Adeleke has had a turbulent period as governor of Osun State, including being removed by the Osun State Governorship Elections Petition Tribunal in January 2023 before the Appeal Court sitting in Abuja restated him in March this year. A few weeks ago the governor was reportedly offended by the sitting arrangement at the Friday prayer ground which led to some fracas and loud accusations by the opposition All Progressives Congress in the state.
Three days ago the governor submitted the list of commissioners-designate to the State House of Assembly.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed on Tuesday, the Governor submitted the list through the Speaker, Adewale Egbedun who was expected to make the list public when the House resumes plenary.
The statement added,
“His Excellency has finalised the commissioners’ list and submitted same to the State Assembly. The House is resuming next week and expectedly, the House Speaker will disclose the names to his colleagues to commence screening of nominees.
“The Governor and the state leadership have done the needful and the public should expect the list to be made public sooner than later.
“The delay was clearly due to many factors, namely the protracted litigation on the outcome of the governorship election and the general elections covering state Assembly, National Assembly and the presidential elections.
The good thing is that the long wait is over. The long awaited commissioners’ list is here.”
Below is the full list of commissioners announced by the Osun Speaker:
1. Barr. Oladosu Babatunde
2.Prince Bayo Ogungbangbe
3. Mr Sesan Epharaim Oyedele
4. Barr. Kolapo Alimi
5. Mr Soji Ajeigbe
6. Mr Moshood Olalekan Olagunju
7. Hon. George Alabi
8. Hon. Sunday Olufemi Oroniyi
9. Mr. Abiodun Bankole Ojo
10. Dr. Basiru Tokunbo Salami
11. Mr Morufu Ayofe
12. Mr Sola Ogungbile
13. Rev. Bunmi Jenyo
14. Mrs Ayo Awolowo
15. Barr. Wole Jimi Bada
16. Hon. Dipo Eluwole
17. Alh. Rasheed Aderibigbe
18. Prof. Morufu Ademola Adeleke
19. Mr Adeyemo Festus Ademola
20. Mr Olabiyi Anthony Odunlade
21. Barr. Jola Akintola
22. Hon. Mayowa Adejorin
23. Mrs Adenike Folashade Adeleke
24. Mr Tola Faseru
25. Alh. Ganiyu Ayobami Olaoluwa
