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Tag: Akin Rotimi

  • Akin Rotimi, 25 other lawmakers announce landmark legislation on Victims’ Rights Bill

    Akin Rotimi, 25 other lawmakers announce landmark legislation on Victims’ Rights Bill

    The Spokesman of the House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi, and 25 other lawmakers have announced the advancement of the Victims’ Rights Bill 2024. The lawmakers said the bill was inspired by the tragic killing of Zakari Muhammed, who died on August 14, 1993.

    The lawmakers in a statement signed by the Spokesman of the Akin Rotimi Constituency Office, Sunkanmi Bamgboye, said this pivotal legislation, which has successfully passed legislative scrutiny, is set to be presented for consideration when the House resumes from recess in September.

    Rotimi said: “The Victims’ Rights Bill 2024 aims to establish comprehensive protections for victims of violent crimes, ensuring their safety and involvement throughout the justice process. It seeks to address significant deficiencies in current laws by defining victims’ rights clearly, mandating court responsibilities to uphold these rights, and ensuring effective implementation and compliance.

    “Current deficiencies in extant laws create an imbalance where the rights of suspected perpetrators can overshadow those of the victims. This imbalance deepens the suffering of victims and fosters a culture of impunity.

    “For justice to be truly effective, it must be fair and provide victims with the protection and redress they need. Without such fairness, the cycle of violence continues, leaving society vulnerable and undermining justice’s core principles.

    “The bill is inspired by numerous cases where victims and their families have suffered due to systemic failures, including the case of Zakari Muhammed, the son of the late former head of state, General Murtala Muhammed.

    “Zakari was tragically shot on August 13, 1993, and died the next day, August 14, 1993. Despite the identification of suspected perpetrators, the case has been stalled by failures in prosecution.

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    “The Murtala Muhammed family and the Murtala Muhammed Foundation, to whom Rotimi has been a great ally, have long advocated for justice and systemic reform, emphasizing the need for such legislation.

    “We acknowledge the technical support of the foundation in drafting this bill and continue to advocate for the support of all stakeholders for this crucial legislation, especially when it gets to the public hearing stage.

    “The bill has garnered broad multipartisan support, with co-sponsors including Rep. Sada Soli; Rep. Kafilat Ogbara; Rep. Zakaria Nyampa; Rep. Philip Agbese; Rep. (Dr.) Adesola Adedayo; Rep. (Engr.) Bala Sani Umar; Rep. Tanko Adamu; Rep. Jafaru Gambo Leko; Rep. Kabiru Alhassan Rumrum; Rep. Olusola Fatoba; Rep. Mohammed Bello El-Rufai; and Rep. Alex Mascot Ikwechegh; among others.

    “This broad coalition underscores a unified commitment to enhancing the justice system and ensuring that victims’ rights are upheld.”

    Rotimi extends his appreciation to the 25 co-sponsors for their support and calls for further engagement and backing within and outside the National Assembly to ensure the bill’s successful passage and implementation.

  • Reps spokesman appoints 85 legislative aides

    Reps spokesman appoints 85 legislative aides

    Spokesman of House of Representatives Akin Rotimi has appointed 85 legislative aides to assist him in providing effective representation to his constituents.

     The legislative aides include 26 physically challenged persons who will serve as contact persons in Ekiti North federal constituency 1.

     Presenting appointment letters to all 85 aides on Friday in Ikole-Ekiti at a one-day retreat for the legislative aides,  Rotimi said appointments were to ensure quality and effective delivery of the dividends of good governance to the people.

    The Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs added that the appointment will serve as a channel for feedback and deepen participatory democracy at the grassroots level.

    Rotimi restated the commitment of the 10th House of Representatives to enact people-oriented laws and deepen engagements with the people for sustainable growth and development.

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    He said: “The current 10th House of Representatives has it as our agenda to deepen grassroots engagements and constituency outreach. We are in a recess now, the House leadership took a strategic decision to go on a recess for Ramadan and Easter.

     “What you are seeing here is the demonstration of our resolve not to be far from Nigerians, to give meaning to their mandate, to give meaning to representation. We had about 85 people we have engaged at the grassroots level. We have legislative advisers, legislative assistants, people with disabilities, and contact focal persons at the grassroots in every single ward.

     “So, what we had today is representation. It is the fact that we believe in representative democracy, we believe in the fact that there should be participatory governance. We had this session to build the capacity of grassroots stakeholders that have been appointed to be able to participate in what we are doing in the House of Representatives.

     “It’s really about representation redefined. I believe very much in participatory governance, people at the grassroots taking a leap and being involved in issues that affect them. I have focal persons for PWDs in all the 24 wards. I have legislative assistants in every ward to ensure that we have a critical channel through which feedback comes and we can also reach them.

  • Reps spokesman appoints 85 legislative aides in Ekiti

    Reps spokesman appoints 85 legislative aides in Ekiti

    The spokesman of the House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi has appointed 85 legislative aides to assist him in providing effective representation to his constituents.

    Among the legislative aides are 26 Persons With Disabilities who will serve as contact persons in Ekiti North Federal Constituency 1.

    Presenting appointment letters to all 85 aides on Friday, March 29, in Ikole-Ekiti at a one-day retreat for the legislative aides, Rotimi said appointments were to ensure quality and effective delivery of the dividends of good governance to the people.

    The chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs added that the appointment will serve as a channel for feedback and deepen participatory democracy at the grassroots level.

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    Rotimi restated the commitment of the 10th House of Representatives to enact people-oriented laws and deepen engagements with the people for sustainable growth and development.

    He said: “The current 10th House of Representatives has it as our agenda to deepen grassroots engagements and constituency outreach. We are in a recess now, the House leadership took a strategic decision to go on a recess for Ramadan and Easter.

    “What you are seeing here is the demonstration of our resolve not to be far from Nigerians, to give meaning to their mandate, to give meaning to representation. We had about 85 people we have engaged at the grassroots level. We have legislative advisers, legislative assistants, people with disabilities, and contact focal persons at the grassroots in every single ward.

    “So, what we had today is representation. It is the fact that we believe in representative democracy, we believe in the fact that there should be participatory governance. We had this session to build the capacity of grassroots stakeholders that have been appointed to be able to participate in what we are doing in the House of Representatives.

    “It’s really about representation redefined. I believe very much in participatory governance, people at the grassroots taking a leap and being involved in issues that affect them. I have focal persons for PWDs in all the 24 wards. I have legislative assistants in every ward to ensure that we have a critical channel through which feedback comes and we can also reach them.

    “People have complained in the past about legislators being very far away from them. We are changing that narrative. I am home every month, I have ward tours and stakeholder engagements. Now, I have taken it a step further to take that financial burden of engaging 85 people.”