'Merge Rural Access Road Agency Bill, KWARMA' - Comrade Lukman Tells Gov Abdulrahman


Comrade Salahudeen A. Lukman (popular as Eluku Omo Adugbo) has urged the Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq-led state government to merge the proposed Kwara State Rural Access Road Agency Bill and the Kwara State Roads Maintenance Agency (KWARMA) to as to avoid duplication of functions and excessive governance costs.

Eluku, who is the 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Candidate for Ojomu/Balogun Constituency at the Kwara State House of Assembly, made this known in a statement he personally signed on Thursday, December 7.

He said, he takes pride in seeing his vision and brainchild being embraced by the government, he emphasized the importance of avoiding redundancy and excessive governance costs, urging the state government to consider merging KWARMA's functions into the new bill.

It would be recalled that, in a significant stride towards enhancing rural infrastructure, Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRasak Abdulrahman, has submitted a bill to the House of Assembly for the creation of the Kwara State Rural Access Road Agency. This agency, upon legislative approval and gubernatorial assent, aims to oversee the comprehensive management, design, development, rehabilitation, reconstruction, and maintenance of rural roads within the state.

The proposal echoes a campaign promise made during the 2023 elections by Hon. Comr. Salahudeen A Lukman, the then-Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Ojomu/Balogun Constituency in the Kwara State House of Assembly. Lukman advocated for the review of the existing Kwara State Road Maintenance Agency (KWARMA) to ensure a more expansive and efficient coverage of rural access roads, ultimately benefiting the citizens of Kwara.

Lukman also called upon members of the State Assembly to actively engage in their legislative duties, proposing amendments that align with the state's economic goals. He asserts that his youthful candidacy was backed by a profound understanding of governance intricacies, as evidenced by the current legislative moves.

As the state anticipates a transformative agenda, Lukman encouraged legislators to explore his proposed legislative interventions for the overall advancement of Kwara. The young politician said he remains committed to driving initiatives that will shape a new and improved Kwara State.

HIS FULL PRESS RELEASE IS REPRODUCED BELOW:

Today, it gladdens my heart to read in the national daily about the bill for the establishment of the Kwara State Rural Access Road Agency sent to the House of Assembly by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRasak Abdulrahman.

The agency, when established after passing through all legislation and subsequent assent by the Governor, according to the bill, is expected to be responsible for ensuring the overall management, design, development, rehabilitation, reconstruction, and maintenance of rural roads in the state.

Ojomu/Balogun Constituents, and, of course, the entire good people of Offa Local Government and the state at large, will recall that during the 2023 electioneering campaign, as the candidate of the major opposition party in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for the state House of Assembly Ojomu/Balogun Constituency, among other acts, I identified for review to meet the current-day purpose in our dear state was the review of an act that established Kwara State Road Maintenance Agency (KWARMA) for the very important purpose of wider and effective coverage of the Kwara access road to enable Kwarans to enjoy prompt rehabilitation work for more motorable rural access roads in the state.

It's my joy seeing this coming to fruition, even though by destiny, I was not the winner of the seat, but seeing my vision adopted and repackaged by the government is a pride. It testifies to the quality of my idea, analytical thinking, solution-inclined reasoning, and most essential of all, my uncommon understanding of the problems of our people, our state, and system and their respective legislative solutions.

It further proves how prepared I was to use the instrument of the legislative to change the narratives of our people's challenges of bad access roads in our various communities.

While commending the Governor for this laudable move, I urge the state government to consider amending this very important and economic booster bill to either merge Kwara State Road Maintenance Agency or absorb the full responsibilities and purpose of KWARMA into this new bill KWARMA to avoid duplication of function and unnecessary expansion of the cost of governance if the two are to coexist.

I call on state Assembly members to wake up to the primary duties of making/reviewing laws, introduce bills and motions that will aid our dear state's political, economic, and social advancement. The assembly is persistently weak, with all reasonable bills passed so far since the 9th assembly coming from Mr. Governor.

Others of my legislative agenda are public, and I encourage our honorable members to lay hands on them, as they could be of help, giving insight to other legislative interventions they can embark upon for the overall benefit of Kwara people.

Yes, I was the youngest male candidate on the ballot then, but my exposure in governance business and understanding of legislative process, procedure, and intricacies are superb. A testimony is what we are having today from Mr. Governor. I will continue to push a transformation agenda, initiative, and idea that will lead us to the new Kwara of our dream.

Hon. Comr. Salahudeen A Lukman (Eluku OmoAdugbo) is the 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Candidate for Ojomu/Balogun Constituency in the Kwara State House of Assembly.