By Steve Oni, Ilorin
The Kwara State House of Assembly says it will raise the bar of good governance in the state in the new year to ensure that democratic governance becomes more meaningful to the citizenry.

      The Speaker, Dr Ali Ahmad, who gave the assurance in Ilorin, the state capital, while welcoming members from the end of the year recess, described the legislature as the true representatives of the people, which owed it a collective duty to fashion out projects and programmes that would bring succour to the people.

 To this end, Ahmad said all overdue accounts of the state must be audited and presented by the appropriate authority  to the Legislature within the first quarter of the year.

     The Speaker, who disclosed that the House of Assembly under his watch had passed ll bills, while three private bills are undergoing legislative processes, said a number of Executive bills are at the committee stage awaiting presentation.

    Disclosing that the first few weeks would be dedicated to the budget process to ensure expeditious passage of 2017 Appropriation bill, Ahmad equally assured the people that the legislature would work with the executive to overhaul the State Town Planning laws to check indiscriminate construction of Filling Stations in residential areas and improve laws that would encourage government patronage of local contractors, suppliers and other service providers within the state.

     He acknowledged the cooperation and support of the Governor to the House towards the performance of its legislative duties without hindrance, adding that the complementary roles of the three tiers of government in a democracy determine the progress of any government.

   Meanwhile, the State House of Assembly has called on the State government to direct the appropriate Ministry in charge of Tourism to come up with a comprehensive statistic of tourism potential with a view  to formulating policies that would encourage intending private investors in the tourism sector in the state.

   This followed a motion titled "Exploring the Tourism Potential of Kwara State" sponsored by a member representing Oke - Ogun Constituency Hon. Kamaldeen Fagbemi, whereby he enjoined the State government to ensure the proper development of tourism centres in the State.