The whole of Oredo Local Government Area, Benin City has felt his impact. If you live in this local government area and you have not felt his impact, there can be two reasons for that. First, Oredo has a population of about 600,000 people judging from the 374,671 cited in the 2006 census. That is a 225,329 increase from 19 years. There are approximately (minimum of) 415 people per street. Secondly, Hon. Engr Esosa Iyawe is a first timer that has spent 30 months in office and records available show that he has performed better than any other first-timer. The breakdown of his constituency projects, empowerment programmes and bills will be well deliberated in subsequent write-ups but now, his motions are on focus:
*(1)*
Motion on the urgent need to investigate and address deviations from Federal Government approved master plans of Federal Housing Estates for excessive profiteering - plenary proceedings, House of Representatives, December, 3rd, 2024. *Reason:* The motion is driven by concerns that these deviations have led to excessive profiteering at the expense of the public interest.
*(2)*
Motion on the alleged non-remittance and under-remittance of tax by MDAs, oil companies, and other organizations. This motion on March 7, 2024, instantly prompted a directive for committees to investigate these allegations. Over the years, these establishments have not remitted billions of naira owed to the federal government and have not paid host communities as mandated by law. Today, the FIRS has gotten approval to recover N5.2 trillion unpaid taxes by MDAs for collective development of the country.
*(3)*
Motion urging the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to reveal all interests and principal sums on investments in the Excess Crude Account (ECA), Petroleum Profits (PTT), and Royalty Account to the Auditor-General for the Federation’s Office. In simple terms, there has been 'indiscriminate withdrawals' from very important government owned accounts denoting absence of clear rules for deposits, withdrawals, and investments which has impacted the revenue accruable to the Federation Account. This motion was filed on 23 July, 2023.
*(4)*
Urgent Need to Address the Outrage Resulting from Unguarded Comments by the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Authority towards Dangote Refinery. Plenary session, July 22, 2024. *Background:* the CEO of the NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed, stated that diesel from the Dangote Refinery had a high sulphur content and was inferior to imported diesel. This damaging claim could promote unpatriotic acts and economic catastrophe. To curtail this, tests were conducted that contradicted Ahmed's claims.In fact, Dangote Refinery diesel had a sulphur content of \(87.6\) ppm, while two imported diesel samples had sulphur levels exceeding \(1,800\) ppm and \(2,000\) ppm. Hon. Engr Esosa Iyawe's motion consolidated this investigation and probes for sabotage of our country's local refinery.
*(5)*
Motion on the need to include the revitalization of Gele-Gele Seaport in Edo in the 2024 budget estimates. Date of adoption: July 18, 2023. Ughoton-Gele Gele Sea Port in Edo State has both historical and economic value. According to history, it was from this seaport that the Portuguese first gained entry into the great Benin Empire for trade in items like pepper, salts, etc. Iyawe's motion will bring to fruition this great progress as the House of Representatives urged the Federal Government to include the project in the 2024 budget and mandated the relevant committee to ensure compliance. It was one of the deliberations of the November 5, 2025 sitting where the House of Representatives urged the executive arm to implement all capital projects outlined in the 2024 and 2025 budgets.
*(6)*
Motion on the need for valuation of public assets in Nigeria and ensuring accountability in their management. This 20th December, 2023 motion addresses the challenge of how best to ensure that public officials are held accountable for their actions and even inactions. The representatives want all public assets to undergo enumeration and valuation as a means of raising revenues for government.
*(7)*
Motion urging the Federal Government to convert forfeited and abandoned properties in Nigeria and abroad for office use to reduce high government expenditure on rents and leases. *Reason:* in a bid to reduce the high expenditure on rent and office buildings, the Federal Government can convert permanently forfeited lands and buildings into offices for federal government agencies operating from rented offices.
*(8)*
Motion on the alleged mismanagement of funds and irregularities in the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) operations. Presenting the motion, Iyawe said that despite the huge budgetary allocations for the insurance scheme, records had shown that only 3 percent of persons had access to health insurance in the formal sector, leaving over 170 million Nigerians without health insurance. The scheme has also been mired with corruption, lack of transparency and accountability. Serious investigation is currently ongoing to unravel these irregularities.
*(9)*
Motion on the need to compel all uniformed government organizations to patronize the National Union of Textile, Garment, and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN). *Background:* In 2017, there was an Executive Order 003 (of 2017) to embark on awareness campaigns to sensitize Nigerians on the benefits of patronising indigenous textile manufacturers. The federal government compelled all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of government to grant preference to local manufacturers and service providers in their procurement of goods and services. They also urged the Nigerian Armed Forces, Nigeria Police Force, the Federal Inland Revenue Service, the National Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Nigeria Customs Service, the Federal Fire Service, and other uniformed government organisations to patronise the National Union of Textile, Garment, and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) to purchase their fabrics. Consequently, the House further urged the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment to revive the textile industry in Nigeria and provide a conducive environment that would attract both indigenous and foreign investments in the sector for sustainable economic development. Unfortunately, this Order had not been implemented and enforced. The House of Representatives, urged the federal government to ensure compliance and Hon. Engr. Esosa Iyawe lend his voice to this cause.
*(10)*
Motion on the urgent call to suspend and investigate the proposed increase in subscription prices by Multichoice. On the 4th of March, 2025, Honourable Iyawe lend his voice for Nigerians and filed that Multichoice, the owners of DStv and GOtv suspend its proposed increase in subscription prices pending exhaustive investigation.
*(11)*
Motion on the need for the utilization of renewable energy in MDAs of the Federal Government. Plenary session December 11, 2024. The truth is, many countries no longer rely on fossil fuels like petrol and gas. Iyawe corroborated the fact that about 60 GW of electrical power obtainable from renewable energy sources would enhance industrialisation within the country to a very large extent.
It is only a true leader who has the people at heart that would file these motions. It is now left for other members of the house to key into this collective project and the executive to accentuate these strides. My former employer used to say, 'the reward for hard work is more work.' Hon. Engr Esosa Iyawe has done well. Those that do well are sent again to accomplish even better. Edo _Ó'dión._
Anna Umegboro - Housed-On-Water Business Hub
15/11/2025
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