The Delta State House of Assembly has approved the request of the State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa in support of the State Executive Council’s ratification of Zenith Bank Promissory note discounting facility of twenty two point six billion naira issued to the state by the federal government.
The Governor’s request is contained in a letter to the House read by the Speaker ,Honourable Sheriff Oborevwori.
In the letter,Governor Okowa said over the years the state government had reconstructed, rehabilitated and resurfaced several federal roads amounting to seventy six point three billion naira .
He said efforts were made to recover the expended funds from the federal government through the presentation of claims to the relevant Senate and House of Representatives Committees following which the federal government issued a promissory note in the sum of twenty two point six billion naira to the Delta state government.
Governor Okowa said the promissory note, which represented thirty percent of the amount spent on the federal roads, was scheduled to mature in February 2021, adding that there was an urgent need of funds to complete numerous road projects before the onset of the rainy season .
He said it had become expedient to obtain a discount facility of the promissory note from Zenith Bank PLC in order to receive immediate value for the promissory note .
Governor Okowa noted that the State Executive Council at its third meeting held on March 19,2019 ratified the approval of the federal government promissory note discounting facility, stressing that by implication the state government had accepted the Zenith Bank offer to discount the promissory note of twenty two point six billion naira at a discount rate of eighteen percent and management fee of one point zero percent payable upfront.
The Governor said the purpose of the letter was to seek the resolution of the House in support of the discounting of the promissory note.
The Majority Leader, Honourable Tim Owhefere moved separate motions for the House to receive the Governor’s letter for further consideration and approval .
The motions were seconded by Honourables Festus Okoh and Oboro Preyor and adopted
Also at plenary, the House passed the Delta State Private Healthcare Registration, Operations and Prohibition Bill .
The passage of the bill followed a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Honourable Tim Owhefere, for the House to resolve into a committee of the whole seconded by the member representing the Ukwuani Constituency, Honourable Alphonsus Ojo and adopted .
At the Committee of the Whole, Honourable Alphonsus Ojo, who is the Chairman House Committee on Health and other members proposed various amendments to different clauses of the bill.
Reporting progress at the Committee of the Whole , the Speaker Honourable Oborevwori said members painstakingly scrutinised the bill and made necessary amendments.
Thereafter the Majority Leader, Honourable Tim Owhefere, moved for the third reading and passage of the bill, seconded by Honourable Reuben Izeze.
The Speaker thanked members for the passage of the bill saying it would enhance healthcare to the people .
The Delta State Private Healthcare Registration, Operations and Prohibition Bill is for a law to regulate the registration, establishment, operations, conduct, monitoring and inspection of private healthcare facilities in the state and for other natters incidental thereto.
The House has adjourned plenary to Tuesday April 2, 2019.
OKOWA Vs EFCC: Ex-Governor’s One-time Spokesperson Writes On The Facts, The...