The Kwara State House of Assembly has adopted the rules that would guide the operations and deliberations of the 8th Assembly for a smooth and peaceful conduct of its affairs. 

Motion for the adoption of the rules was moved by the Majority Leader Hassan Oyeleke of Essa/Shawo/Igboidun Constituency of Offa Local Government and seconded by Barrister Kamaldeen Fagbemi, representing Oke-Ogun Constituency of Oyun Local Government.

The motion was adopted in line with section 101 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

Meanwhile, the House has expressed concern over the arbitrary increament in the price of visa to Saudi Arabia.

This was contained in a notice of motion moved by a member representing Omupo Constituency, Hon. Moshood Bakare, and seconded by Hon. Shuaib Abdulkadir of Patigi Constituency. 

Bakare said the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, established in 1938, was one of the most visited countries in the world for both religious and commercial purposes.

He said that the visa policy for entry and exit of the kingdom was made transparent, easy and free, especially into the holy cities of Makkah and Madina. 

The lawmaker expressed concern over travel agents that now charge as much as $2,000 aside other administrative charges to obtain the supposedly free visa.

Reading the resolution of the House, the Speaker, Dr Ali Ahmad, called on all travel agents involved in the shaddy deal to desist from exploiting unsuspecting and innocent citizens on this religious mission. 

Dr Ahmad also called on relevant government agencies in charge of regulating the activities of the travel agents to take appropriate sanctions on erring agents.

The Speaker urged National Hajj Commission to sanitise the system with a view to checking the activities of the travel agents. He equally advised Saudi authorities to come out in clear terms and dissociate themselves from the practice of charging exhubitantly for the collection of visa to Saudi Arabia.

Some of the members who contributed during the deliberation described the motion as timely, and called on the Pilgrims Welfare Board to work towards regulating the actvities of travel agents as they relate to visa charge as well as the provision of facilities and accommodation for pilgrims in the holy land.