One year ago, precisely 13th June 2023,the 8th Adamawa Assembly was inaugurated with Rt Hon Bathiya Wesley Member representing Hong constituency unanimously emerged as the Speaker by the entire members of the Assembly.
Since then, legislative business started with People’s Democratic Party PDP having majority with sixteen Members while All progressive Congress APC with the minority of nine members out of twenty five.
Out of the entire twenty five members of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, eleven of the lawmakers including the Speaker are the senior ranking members while the remaining fourteen are first timers.
However during the year under review court of Appeal sacked member representing Gombi constituency Hon Japheth Kefas and declared Hon Rufa’i Umar of the APC after affirming the judgement of the state election Petition Tribunal who earlier nullified the election.
In thesame vain, the Appeal court in affirming the judgement of the State Election Petition Tribunal ordered for the re run election in some units of Mayo Belwa Constituency which saw the emergence of Hon. Musa Kallamu of the PDP as the winner.
In exhibition of his leadership quality as the Speaker of the 8th Assembly, Rt Hon Bathiya Wesley first of all ensure that a cordial working relationship exists within the twenty five members as the representative of people of Adamawa state not representative of a political party.
Having achieved this, the House leadership was constituted under peaceful atmosphere with leaders emerging for various offices.
Since then legislative business continues in full force with series of retreat and workshops to equip the legislators with technical know how on legislative business especially the first timers.
The entire members of the 8th Assembly under the Rt Hon Bathiya Wesley continue to coexist peacefully as one big family for the overall development of Adamawa State.
This bond of unity among the lawmakers has resulted to the cordial relationship existing between Executive and legislative arm, giving birth to the numerous development recorded under the fresh air administration.
The lawmakers in appreciation and acceptance on the leadership of the Rt Hon Bathiya Wesley, the Lawmakers during a plenary late last year past a vote of confidence on the Speaker.
The 8th Assembly under the Rt Hon Bathiya Wesley during the year under review was able to pass several laws and bills that have direct bearing on the lives of the Adamawa Citizens.
The House also screened and confirmed twenty commissioner nominees forwarded to it by Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri and confirmed several chairmen and members of boards for effective governance.
Oversight function is one of the key constitutional functions of the legislators, the 8th Assembly during it’s one year was able to live above board in that regards.
The members under the leadership of the Speaker during the year under review identifies with each other during their moment of joy and sorrow.
Even the staff of the Assembly identifies with the leadership of the Speaker as he introduces some welfare package for staff especially training.
The 8th Assembly in May 2024, recorded it’s sad moment with the demise of one of their own member representing Ganye Constituency late Hon Abdulmalik Musa Jauro whom the Speaker described as team player and will be missed by the entire members of the Adamawa State Assembly.
With this brief on the 8th Assembly during it’s one year under the leadership of the Rt Hon Bathiya Wesley which has been action pack, is an indication that the state will witness more vibrant lawmakers in the next three years under the present leadership.
Hyellamada Bernard
CPS to the Speaker ADHA.
