The Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Honourable Sheriff Oborevwori, has said there is a robust working relationship between the Executive and the Legislative arms of government with the aim of giving Deltans the best.
Speaking at a media briefing on Wednesday in Asaba to commemorate the first anniversary of the Seventh Assembly, the Speaker noted that the House had been open to constructive engagements with the Executive in a bid to move the state forward.
Oborevwori, who was flanked by Principal Officers and other members of the House, said with the end of the first session; the 29 member Assembly was stepping into the second session with a great deal of determination, hope and confidence that would lead to a significant improvement in its performance.
He recalled that upon inauguration of the Seventh Assembly on Wednesday, 10th June, 2019, the management of the House put together pre-induction programmes for the then Members – elect with a view to enthrenching a virile and vibrant Assembly for the state.
The Speaker stated that the success story of the Sixth Assembly expectedly placed a burden of high expectation on the Seventh Assembly, assuring that the House, as presently constituted, would continue to drive positive change and remain committed to promoting the rule of law, democratic tenets and ethos.
Oborevwori revealed that after the inauguration of the Seventh Assembly, the House constituted 30 Special and Standing Committees in line with the provisions of Section 103 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended ) and Order 15 of the Rules of the House, for the effective and efficient legislative activities of the House.
He said in the first session of the Seventh Assembly, fourteen Bills were presented to the House, ten of them Executive Bills, while four were private Members Bills, adding that nine Bills were passed and assented to, none awaiting assent and five were pending.
Furthermore, under the same period, a total of 66 Motions were received and 66 Resolutions adopted
According to the Speaker, the Seventh Assembly decided to improve on the aesthetics of the Assembly Complex and the Legislators’ quarters to provide a conducive working environment for Members and staff and listed key areas of needs identified for improvement to include; provision of water, interlocking of the Complex, construction of cesspools to contain the flow of water, maintenance and renovation of the printing press, upgrading/renovation of committee rooms and the press centre, beautification of the Legislators’ Quarters and general face-lift of the Assembly Complex.
Oborevwori said in view of the Coronavirus pandemic and the attendant health risk, the Leadership of the House in line with the State Government’s guidelines and NCDC protocols, devised a means to enable the House sit at plenary to consider and pass critical Finance Bills to keep the engine of state running in these trying times.
The Bills were; the Delta State Fiscal Responsibility ( Amendment ) Law, 202O; Delta State Public Procurement Law, 202O; Delta State Revised Appropriation Law, 202O; and Delta State Internal Revenue Service Law, 202O.
The Speaker said Members of the Seventh Assembly had actively engaged in constituency visits and town hall meetings to feel the pulse of their constituents, receive feedbacks and promote government programmes and policies, while the various Committees of the House had held Public Hearings with stakeholders and members of the public and received inputs that helped the legislative process.
He explained that during the lockdown by the state government, Members of the House provided palliatives to help cushion the hardship occasioned by the Corona Virus pandemic, and used the opportunity to thank constituents and Deltans for the confidence reposed in the House.
Oborevwori also thanked the state Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, for his support for the Legislature, noting that the Assembly during the period under review had enjoyed industrial harmony with the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN ), which he pleaded should be sustained to take the Assembly to greater heights.
The Speaker, who expressed gratitude to his Colleagues for their quality advice, cooperation and unwavering support for the leadership of the House, also thanked Traditional rulers in the state for their fatherly advice.
He commended the management and staff of the House for their dedication to duty, which contributed largely to the success recorded thus far, just as he expressed gratitude to the media for effectively covering the activities of the House during the period under review.
Oborevwori assured Deltans that the Legislature would continue to work to advance the rights and interests of the people, in playing its constitutional role of making laws for the peace, order and good governance of the state.
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