Ekiti Executive Council Sends Bills On Wealth Fund, Environmental Body To Assembly

By Ayodele Oni

Ekiti State Government is set to establish the State Wealth Fund, which is designed to receive, manage and invest in a diversified portfolio of medium and long term assets for the state and for future generations of indigenes and residents.

The approval for the establishment of the Fund was one of the decisions reached at the meeting of the state executive council, on Wednesday in Ado Ekiti.

Special Adviser to the Governor on media, Olayinka Oyebode in a statement explained that the Council gave an approval for bill on the establishment of the Ekiti State Wealth Fund to be presented to the state House of Assembly for legislative processing and subsequent passage into law.

It will be the first executive bill to be presented to the Assembly this year.

The State Wealth Fund would among other things, build a savings base for the indigenes and residents of the state; provide for investments in the promotion of research and development in modern technologies and innovations.

It will also provide stabilisation support to the State Government in times of economic stress as well as manage other funds and investments for the state.

The Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Mr Akintunde Oyebode explained that the Fund is a clear sign that Ekiti State is not only committed to fiscal discipline by saving for the rainy day, but has also  prioritized investments by committing a portion of the wealth fund to catalysing private investments.

“By sending such an important piece of legislation to the House of Assembly for consideration, Ekiti has again shown its willingness to lead the way on good governance and fiscal responsibility in Nigeria.”

Other decisions by the state council, according to the statement, is an approval for the establishment of the Ekiti State Environmental Protection and Watershed Management Agency at the meeting.

The former State Environmental Protection Agency 2009 was repealed and replaced with  Ekiti State Environmental Protection and Watershed Management Agency Law 2003.

It also approved the presentation of the bill to the state assembly for legislative processing and passage into law.

When it becomes operational, the agency is expected to, among other responsibilities, initiate policies and carry out environmental research and acquisition of relevant environmental technology and report on the state of the environment.

It will also carry out public enlightenment and staff capacity development on sound methods of environmental protection and management, erosion prevention and control, watershed and catchment management.

The meeting also deliberated and approved the appointment of Prince Ogundana Akinwande Moses as the new Onikoyi of Ikoyi-Ekiti in Ikole Local Government Area of the state.

By the approval, Prince Ogundana of the Iledin ruling house is to succeed the late Onikoyi, Oba Julius Olalere Falaki who passed on August 25, 2022.