….They Are Very Important Bills, Says Okowa
By Omoghene Benedict/Ughelli
The Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori has presented five bills passed by the House to the State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa for his assent.
The Bills, presented to the Governor for assent by the Speaker, Rt Hon Oborevwori, who was accompanied by the Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon Christopher Ochor and other principal officers, were the Delta State University (Amendment) Bill, 2021and Delta State Printing and Publishing Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2021.
Others were Delta State House of Assembly Service (Establishment etc.) Bill, 2021; Delta State House of Assembly Fund Management (Financial Autonomy) Bill, 2021 and Delta State Judiciary Fund Management (Financial Autonomy) Bill, 2021.
According to the Speaker, the passage of the Bills was to deepen tenets of democracy in the state.
He said that ; “Your Excellency Sir, we are before you today to present five very important Bills passed by the House for your assent. It is my belief that these Bills when assented to will deepen the tenets of democracy in our dear State. The Bills are namely: Delta State University Law, 1998 (Amendment) Bill, 2021;Delta State Printing and Publishing Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2021;Delta State House of Assembly Service (Establishment etc.) Bill, 2021;Delta State House of Assembly Fund Management (Financial Autonomy) Bill, 2021; and Delta State Judiciary Fund Management (Financial Autonomy) Bill, 2021”
“Your Excellency Sir, please permit me to briefly highlight the primary objective for each of the Bills and mention the dates of the various stages for the First, Second and Third Reading/Passage the Bills went through on the floor of the House, in fulfillment of the requirements of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered)”, he added.
He explained that; ” Delta State University Law, 1998 (Amendment) Bill, 2021.The aim of this Bill is to transfer the Faculty of Agriculture, Management Sciences and Environmental Sciences at Anwai campus to the main campus at Abraka for ease of administration of the Delta State University, Abraka.1st Reading, 15th June, 2021, 2nd Reading, 15th, 2021, 3rd Reading and passed, 15th June, 2021″
On the Delta State Printing and Publishing Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2021, the Speaker said; ” This Bill seeks to increase the tenure of the Chairman and Members of the Printing and Publishing Corporation from two years to three years subject to the pleasure of the Governor for better service delivery. 1st Reading, 6th July, 2021, 2nd Reading, 28th July, 2021, 3rd Reading and passed, 28th July, 2021″.
“Delta State House of Assembly Service (Establishment etc.) Bill, 2021. Owing to the Memorandum of Action signed by all the stakeholders for the implementation of the financial autonomy granted to the State Legislature, it became expedient to repeal the Delta State House of Assembly Service Commission Law, 2013 and enact the Delta State House of Assembly Service Law, 2021, in conformity with the reality of the financial autonomy for State Legislatures. 1st Reading, 16th June, 2021, 2nd Reading, 7th July, 2021, 3rd Reading and passed, 14th July, 2021”, Rt Hon Oborevwori said.
“Delta State House of Assembly Fund Management (Financial Autonomy) Bill, 2021. Sir, this Bill is indeed a testimony of your commitment to the doctrine of separation of powers for the three Arms of Government. The passage of this Bill is in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fourth Alteration No.4) Act, 2017, and the Memorandum of Action signed by the Governors Forum and all the stakeholders for the implementation of the financial autonomy granted to State Legislatures. 1st Reading, 15th June, 2021, 2nd Reading, 16th June, 2021, 3rd Reading and passed, 29th July, 2021”, he stated.
Rt Hon Oborevwori noted that; “Delta State Judiciary Fund Management (Financial Autonomy) Bill, 2021. Sir, the Delta State Judiciary Fund Management (Financial Autonomy) Bill, 2021, has the same objective with the House of Assembly Fund Management Bill. Both Bills are offshoot of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fourth Alteration No.4) Act, 2017, and the Memorandum of Action signed by the Governors Forum and all the stakeholders for the implementation of the financial autonomy granted to the State Legislatures and Judiciary. 1st Reading, 28th July, 2021, 2nd Reading, 29th July, 2021, 3rd Reading and passed, 29th July, 2021”.
“Your Excellency Sir, it is my pleasure at this juncture to call on the Clerk of the House to present the above Bills for your Assent”, he said.
Governor Okowa thanked the House of Assembly for its cooperation and collaboration, noting that his administration had achieved a lot because of the cordial relationship between the executive and the legislature.
He urged the speaker and members to sustain the collaboration in the best interest of the people of the state and said “we have been doing a lot for our people but there is still a lot more to be done and we urge all Deltans to remain patient with us.
According to the Governor, the bills were very important in the life of his administration, explaining that the amendment to Delta State University Law was needed in order to give effect to the Dennis Osadebay University to return the faculties of Agriculture, Management and Environmental Sciences from Asaba to Abraka.
“We have just witnessed my assent to five Bills that were passed by the State House of Assembly and they are very important Bills, particularly as it relates to the need for us as a government to have separation of powers and to give autonomy to each arm of government.
“But, very importantly are the two Bills that give autonomy to Delta State House of Assembly and the State Judiciary.
“You will recall that in the last two years we have been operating autonomy for the House of Assembly, but because of the recent events in our nation, it became necessary to have an amendment to that law which we had previously passed as a state to conform with that being done across the nation.
“We had to repeal the initial law to re-enact the Delta State House of Assembly Fund Management Bill which has just been signed into law.
“In the same vein, the State Judiciary Fund Management Law had to be repealed also and to be re-enacted in conformity with the agreements reached among all the states of the federation.
“I am truly glad that today we have given full and acceptable financial autonomy to both the House of Assembly and the Judiciary.
“It is my hope and prayer that this will energise the House and the judiciary to continue to do the best they can to impact very meaningfully on the governance of our people.
“However, I must clearly state that in Delta State, in spite of the separation of powers, we work collectively in the common interest of our people and I must use this opportunity to appreciate the Delta State House of Assembly for the great job they have been doing for our people.
“In working together it is much better to be able to communicate with our people and to provide the dividends of democracy in spite of the very challenging moments that we have in our nation where the economy is dwindling and insecurity is high,” Governor Okowa stated.
