EKITI ASSEMBLY STRENGTHENS MULTIPLE BIRTHS WITH LAW*

ALIMOTU SHADIAT

The Ekiti State House of Assembly has passed a bill for the establishment of Ekiti State Multiple Births Trust Fund.

The Assembly at a plenary on Tuesday gave an overwhelming legislative endorsement to the State Multiple Births Trust Fund to make it an enduring legacy that would stand the test of time for posterity.

The multiple births trust, an initiative of the Wife of the Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, was founded in 2010 during Dr John Kayode Fayemi’s first term in office.

The bill which was sponsored by Hon Babatunde Abiodun Fawekun of
Ido/Osi Constituency 1 has six major highlights.

The Multiple Births Trust Fund would provide welfare and financial assistance, qualitative health care services for indigent parents of multiple births, such as twins, triplets, quadruplets, quintuplets and as well as other higher multiple births.

The Trust Fund would also be saddled with the responsibility of creating a better standard of living and government support for indigent families with multiple births and as well as provision of access to better and qualitative education through government sponsorship for the children.

The bill which necessitated the establishment and composition of a Steering Committee and establishment of Multiple Birth Trust Fund Account also highlights the functions of the Committee to include ensuring periodic review of the Ekiti State Multiple Birth Trust Fund; collate and record multiple births in the State; disburse money for the purpose of the bill; and liaise with other government/international bodies to carry out the objectives of the bill.