Ekiti House of Assembly on Thursday suspended its legislative activities indefinitely as parts of the measures to contain the spread of Coronavirus, coded COVID-19.
The decision was taken at the Thursday’s plenary presided over by the Speaker, Mr Funminiyi Afuye in Ado-Ekiti.
The Chairman, House Committee on Health, Mrs Teju Okunyiga, had under Matter of Urgent Public Importance, informed the House of a reported case of COVID-19 in Ekiti.
Okunyiga then called for precautionary measures to contain the further spread of the diseases.
Other members who spoke on the matter included Mrs Yemisi Ayokunle, Gboyega Aribisogan, and Abiodun Fawekun, suggesting that aside the Assembly’s complex, public places like schools should be shut down, at least, for now.
Commenting, the Speaker said: “Activities at the Ekiti House of Assembly are hereby suspended as suggested by members, until further notice when the tension about the dreaded Coronavirus is doused.”
Afuye, however, allayed the fear of residents, saying though the COVID-19 was real, the state government was on top of the situation.
He advised members of the Assembly to sensitize their constituents against social interaction, unnecessary handshake and regular washing of hands, among others, that could cause the spread of the disease.
Meanwhile, two bills, Ekiti Housing Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2020 and Law to Prohibit Discriminatory against Persons with Disabilities, 2020, were unanimously passed at the Thursday’s plenary.
The passage of the bills followed the adoption of the reports of the House Committees on Lands and Housing as well as Women Affairs and Social Development.
This was submitted by their Chairmen, Mr Ayodeji Ajayi, and Mrs Adekemi Balogun, respectively.
The Assembly thereafter adjourned plenary sitting “sine die” as moved by Mr Gboyega Aribisogan and seconded by Mr Tunde Idowu (Ikere Constituency 2). (NAN)
