OBOREVWORI HARPS ON NEED FOR SOUND LEGISLATIVE STRUCTURE AT LG LEVEL AS IKA NORTH EAST COUNCILLORS BUILD CAPACITY

The Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, has stressed the need for sound and result – oriented Legislature at the local government level.

Oborevwori stated this in Asaba, while declaring open a two – day capacity building workshop for elected Councilors of Ika North East local government council, organized by the member representing Ika North East in the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon Anthony Elekeokori. 

The Speaker, in a key note address on the occasion, reminded the Councilors that as lawmakers at the local government level, their actions and inactions had direct and immediate impact on their constituents.

Oborevwori, who described the Ika North East representative, Hon Anthony Elekeokuri, as a focused, articulate, intelligent and highly resourceful Lawmaker, commended him for sponsoring the training program to prepare the Councilors for Legislative business.

For his part, Hon Anthony Elekeokuri said the Legislature remained the only arm of government charged with the responsibility of making laws bothering on the welfare and security of the people as provided for in section 14, subsection 2b of the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

He explained that he took the decision to sponsor the capacity building workshop to expand and deepen the knowledge and skills of the Ika North East Councilors in lawmaking, representation and oversight functions, as human capital development in all areas of life was a solid ground for the development of the society.

“It is based on the above I opened up conversation with the legislative staff of the Delta State House of Assembly to replicate what we have at thevNational Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies for the benefit of the legislative arm of Ika North East local government council. I enjoin you all to avail yourselves this unique opportunity to deepen your knowledge of the legislative process and procedures, budgeting, rules, ethics and privileges amongst others “, Elekeokuri stated.

The Lawmaker also stressed the need for a cordial relationship between the Executive and Legislative arms of the Council in order to enhance the delivery of dividends of democracy to the people.

The facilitator of the program, Mr Silvester Olorogun, while congratulating the participants for the privilege provided by the training program, urged them to give the workshop the seriousness it deserved with expectation that it would add value to their legislative activities at the council.

“Overview of Legislative Practice and Procedure”, “Result Based Monitoring and Evaluation Framework “, Overview of Budget Management “, “Committee System in the Legislature“, and “Supremacy of the Constitution , “Legislative Ethics and Privileges” and Doctrine of Separation of Powers”, are issues being discussed at the workshop.

Others include “Motions and Amendments to Motions, Raising Point of Order, Ruling from the Chair, Adjournment Debate and Adjournment Motion” as well as “Laying of Papers and Circulation of Legislative Materials, Order Paper, Business of the Week, Calendar of Sitting, Preparation of Votes and Proceedings”.

A team of highly resource persons, including Mr D.S Olorogun, Dr Steven Okolo, Penn Oghenerhaboke, Barr Smart Edoge, Ebiton Ogboka and Mr Alex Joe, were drawn from the legislative and legal departments of the Delta State House of Assembly. 

They all acknowledged the basics for sound Legislature and encouraged the participants to return to their duty posts better legislators.

The Leader of the Legislative Arm of Ika North East, Rowland Okuokeyi, expressed gratitude to Hon Anthony Elekeokori for organizing the capacity building workshop, saying that issues being discussed would enhance efficiency, growth and development of Ika North East local government council.