The Kwara House of Assembly has urged the state government to explore the potential of tourism in a bid to among other things increase its Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR).
The advice was sequel to the motion on notice on the need to promote tourism and culture as additional sources of government revenue and panacea for peace and development.
The motion was moved by Hon. Rukayat Shittu (APC/Owode/Onire) during plenary on Wednesday in Ilorin.
The legislators also urged Gov. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to embark on an holistic restructuring of the Tourism and Hospitality Board, starting with a review of its enabling law.
They resolved that this would, among other things, reflect the modern demands and expectations on tourism as an alternative source of government revenue.
Reading the resolutions, the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu directed the 16 local governments to revive their Tourism and Culture units with the needed expertise and resources.
”We also want the governor to direct a collaboration of the Ministry of Communication, Tourism Board, Kwara Council for Arts and culture with the LG culture units.
”This will birth the hosting of one cultural festival by each senatorial district quarterly or once in a year, at the minimum.
”We also urge the state govenment to consider an upward review of the budgetary allocations to the Communication Ministry, State Tourism Board and the Council for Arts and Culture for tourism-related activities.
”The Governor should also direct the Communication Ministry to collaborate with the Ministry of Agriculture to draw a strategy that will develop agro-tourism in order to encourage rural tourism activities,” he said.
Leading the debate, the motion’s prime mover, Hon. Shittu, had said a number of countries like Japan, France Spain and the U.S now run a tourism-based economy.
She said Kwara was blessed with both natural and man-made tourism potential scattered across different locations in the state.
The legislator noted that Kwara enjoys relative serenity and peace with diverse cultural heritages.
“This is something that can be showcased to the outside world, hence they should be tapped,” she walked up to him.
The co-mover of the motion, Hon. Seun Ogunniyi (APC/Ojomu/Balogun), noted that exploring tourism potential in the state would reduce the heavy reliance on federal allocations.
Another co-mover of the motion, Hon. Lawal Ayanshola (APC/Ipaye/Malete/Oloru), said the motion was timely as several states were looking inwards on ways to improve IGR to meet growing demands.
He said parts of the benefits of tourism were being a veritable source of foreign exchange and helping in preservation of cultural heritage.
Meanwhile, the House also considered a Motion on Notice on the need for comprehensive medical and security checks on workers/aides before engagement for health and security reasons.
The motion was principally moved by Hon. Abdullahi Danbaba (APC/Kaiama/Kemanji/Wajibe) and co-moved by both Hon. Rasaq Owolabi (APC/Share/Oke-Ode) and Hon. Fatimoh Lawal (APC/Ilorin East).
Reading the resolutions on the motion, the Speaker urged the governor to direct the Ministry of Social Development to ensure all home and security service providers in Kwara were adequately registered.
He said this was to guard againt any security threat posed by the domestic workers.
The House also called on individual household which requires the services of domestic aides to engage professional security and government health facilities.
It said this was with a view to obtaining adequate information about domestic workers.(NAN)
