We Are Not Rubber Stamp To Okowa, Says  Delta Speaker

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We Are Not Rubber Stamp To Okowa, Says  Delta Speaker

Following public outcry describing the Delta state house of Assembly as a rubber stamp to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, the speaker of the state legislature, Sheriff Oborevwori, has said the “The house has never been a rubber stamp to the governor at any time rather than cordial and harmonious working relationship.”

Addressing a press conference Wednesday to commemorate the first anniversary of the seventh Assembly, Oborevwori, made it clear that “the house will never be a rubber stamp to the executive. Law making is all about cordial relationship, about lobbying and dialogue to succeed. The house was able to pass a lot of bills because there was no rancour and disagreement between the executive and the legislative arms in the state.”

While commending and thanking the house leadership and members of the house for all the supports, given his administration, the speaker, disclosed that the period under review, the House with the cooperation of the executive has been able to achieve and record giant strides in capacity building for competence and excellence, timely consideration and processing of bills, motions and request from the Executive.

“Under the this period, the Assembly recorded among other strikes to include, physical transformation of the Assembly complex, legislators quarters, provision of effective service delivery to the people of the state, constructive engagement of the executive in policy formulation and transformation of same into law where necessary, robust mechanism for citizen engagement.

“As you are already aware, the 7th Assembly was inaugurated on Wednesday 10, June, 2019 with pump and pageantry. However, prior to the inauguration, the management of the House rode on the gains of the 7th Assembly and put together pre-induction programmes for members elect of the 7th Assembly. The essence was to birth a virile and vibrant Assembly for the state.

“The 7th Assembly is a “work in progress” as members are more resilient, purposeful, committed and always available for legislative responsibilities in plenary, committed and oversight assignments. The House undertook and organized a bespoke training programmes to sharpen the skills of returning members and acquaint/expose newly elected members to legislative practice and procedure.

“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. 

“In the period under review, fourteen bills were presented to the House, ten were executive bills while four were private member bills. Nine bills were passed, nine bills were assented to, five bills are pending. Under the same period a total number of 66 motions were received and 66 resolutions were adopted accordingly. 

“To create conducive working environment for members and staff, the 7th Assembly decided to improve the aesthetics of the complex and the legislator’s quarters with provision of water, interlocking of the complex, construction of cesspools for 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 facelift of the Assembly complex. 

“In spite of the COVID-19 pandemic, the leadership of the House in line with the state government’s guidelines and NCDC protocols, devised a means for plenaries to consider and pass critical finance bills to effectively position the state in these trying times such as the Delta State Fiscal Responsibility (Amendment) Law, 2020, Delta State Public Procurement Law, 2020, Delta State Revised Appropriation Law, 2020 and Delta State Internal Revenue Service Law, 2020.”

According to the speaker who was flanked by the house majority leader, Tim Owhefere and other principal officers of the house, the house has enjoyed industrial harmony between the leadership of the House and the Union and thanked the leadership of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), urging them to sustain the existing peace and always resort to dialogue whenever the need arises.

On his 2023 alleged governorship ambition, Oborevwori, dismissed the allegation, saying “It is a rumour been speculated mischievously. I am comfortable with my current position as the Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly.”

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