Oyo Speaker Swears-In First Female Clerk, Oyediran

Following the retirement of Barrister Paul Ishola Bankole as the Clerk and Permanent Secretary of the Oyo State House of Assembly, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Olagunju Ojo today sworn-in Ms. Felicia Foluke Oyediran as the new Clerk/Permanent Secretary.

Prior to her confirmation and swearing-in, Oyediran was a Deputy Clerk in the House.

She was once a classroom teacher at St. Anne’s School, Molete,Ibadan in 1998 before her appointment was transferred to the State House of Assembly in 1999 as a Clerk-at-Table at the advent of democracy.

In the build up to the confirmation and swearing-in, the House Majority Leader, Hon. Kehinde Subair and Minority Leader, Hon. Akeem Ige had moved a motion on the “Need to Fill the Vacancy of the Clerk of the Oyo State House of Assembly” to fill the vacuum created as a result of retirement of the former Clerk, Barrister Paul Ishola Bankole,mni.

The two Legislators referred the House to Section 93 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and Order VII, Rule 10 (1-2) of the Standing Rules of the Oyo State House of Assembly, which established importance of the Office of the Clerk as regard day-to-day running of the House.

They also reminded the House of the passage of Oyo State House of Assembly Commission Bill into law and assented to by the Governor of the state, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, which enables the Clerk of the House to emerge among Deputy Clerks subject to the confirmation by 2/3 majority of the House of Assembly members.

The Speaker, Olagunju Ojo, while performing the swearing-in ceremony, charged Ms. Oyediran to use the opportunity to improve on the quality of legislative service delivery, as well as contributing more to the success recorded so far by the House in terms of law making, oversight functions and other legislative duties.

He reiterated that the step has raised hope of other members of staff of the House of Assembly to attain the position of Clerk/Permanent Secretary in their career as civil servants.

The newly sworn-in Clerk, Felicia Foluke Oyediran promised to use the position to improve on the working environment, improve welfare of the members of staff, ensuring harmony among Honourable members and speedy delivery of legislative services.

Oyediran, who is the first Female Clerk to be appointed in the history of Oyo State House of Assembly hailed from Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

She is a graduate of the premier University of Ibadan with her first degree in Geography and Masters Degree in Managerial Psychology from the same institution.

She has served in various Ministries including Governor’s Office and Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Investment and Cooperative.