The Delta State Freedom of Information Bill has been passes by the State House of Assembly.
The passage of the Bill followed the consideration of the report of the Joint Committee on the Bill at a Committee of the Whole following a motion moved by the Majority Leader,Honourable Tim Owhefere, seconded by Honourable Reuben Izeze.
Reporting progress the Speaker Honourable Sheriff Oborevwori who presided over plenary said the members resolved at the Committee of the whole that having gone through the bill the House should suspend the rules and pass it.
Thereafter, the Majority Leader, Honourable Tim Owhefere moved for the suspension of orders 77,78 and 79 to enable the House pass the bill .
The motions was seconded by Honourables Samuel Mariere and Kennedy Daubry and was adopted through a voice vote.
The Speaker, Honourable while thanking members for their support for the passage of the bill said the bill would enhance the principles of democracy as the people would have access to information.
The Delta State Freedom of Information bill is for a law to make public records and information more freely available, provide for public access to public records and information.
The bill is also meant to protect public records and information to an extent consistent with the public interest and the protection of personal privacy ,protect serving public officers from adverse consequences of disclosing certain kinds of official information without authorization and establish procedures for the achievement of the purpose and for related matters.
Also at plenary the House received and adopted the report of its Committee on Environment, Oil and Gas on a bill for a law to establish the the Delta State Environment Management Agency and to repeal the Delta State Environmental Protection Agency Law.
The adoption of the report followed the presentation of the committee’s report by it’s Chairman Honourable Daniel Yingi.
He told the House that the bill was referred to the Committee on Environment, Oil and Gas after its second reading on January 30, 2019 with the mandate to further scrutinise the bill.
Yingi said the Committee organised a public hearing where stakeholders from the Ministry of Environment, representatives of the Ministry of Justice, non governmental organizations, and the Environmental Health Officers Association made useful contributions.
He said the passage of the bill into law would help the state in ensuring environmental sustainable development and also increase the revenue profile of the state .
Thereafter the Majority Leader ,Honourable Tim Owhefere moved for the House to receive and adopt the report.
The motions was seconded by the Deputy Majority Leaser, Honourable Oboro Preyor and adopted.
The House has slated April 4, 2019 for a Committee of the Whole
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