…Says Delta Have Always Supported LG Autonomy
By Godwin-Maria Utuedoye
Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Guwor Dennis Emomotimi, has said, it is wrong for the Attorney General of the Federation to join Delta State in a suit filed against the 36 states governors over the local government autonomy, describing the position of the AGF, to him, as an aberration and unconstitutional.
Rt. Hon. Guwor stated this while responding to questions from journalists during a Press briefing to kick start the first year anniversary of the 8th Assembly held of Tuesday, June 4, 2024, the legislator chapel at the legislators quarter, Asaba.
“What the AGF did is unconstitutional because the Federal Government cannot deduct at source from the state what belong to the local government, since in the last dispensation of the 7th assembly, at the state level, Delta State did concur to the local government autonomy.
“We needed Two-Third of the states to concur in favour of the Local Government Autonomy, but unfortunately, only 16 states concurred to it. So we needed 24 states but let me appeal to the Federal to wait for the ongoing constitutional amendments to lobby as lawmaking goes with lobbying so that the 24 States can concur to the local government autonomy”.
The number one lawmaker who was flanked by his Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Arthur Okpowowo, the Majority Leader of the House, Rt. Hon. Engr. Emeka Nwaobi, other principles members and members, however expressed optimism on the expected verdict of the supreme court.
Giving account of stewardship of the House in the last in the last one year noted that the House have achieved a lot in line with the MORE agenda of the Governor of the state, Rt. Hon. Elder Sheriff Oborevwori.
“We have lived up to our ratings as the most vibrant House of Assembly in the country, and we have raised the bar in its constitutional responsibility of law making for the peace, order and good governance of the state”.
Guwor maintained that the vibrancy of the House was evident in the adoption of a well thought out Legislative policy trust, robustly responsible and responsive and in tandem with the policy direction of the M.O.R.E Agenda of the Oborevwori administration.
Highlighting some of the achievements so far, Rt. Hon. Guwor said;
“In fulfillment of our constitutional duties, the House was able to screened and confirmed nominees for appointment as members of the State Executive Council and appointment to Government Agencies”.
Below are some of the Boards and Commissions:
1. Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy,
2. Delta State Internal Revenue Service,
3. Delta State Local Government Service Commission,
4. Delta State Independent Electoral Commission,
5. Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency,
6. Delta State Contributory Health Commission,
7. Warri/Uvwie and Environs Special Area Development Agency,
8. Direct Labour Agency (DLA),
9. Delta Broadcasting Services, Asaba,
10. Delta Broadcasting Services, Warri,
11. Delta State Waste Management Board,
12. Delta State Rural Development Agency,
13. Delta State Bursary and Scholarship Board,
14. Delta State Universal Basic Education Board,
15. Delta State Post Primary Education Board,
16. Delta State Bureau for Pensions,
17. Delta State Job and Wealth Creation Bureau,
18. Delta State Investment Development Agency,
19. Delta State Civil Service Commission, and
20. Auditor-General ( Local Governments).
He said the rational behind the the House screening and confirming the nominees for the mentioned Agencies, Boards and Commissions was to ensure efficient and effective administration of government in the state, adding that the House did not stop at confirmation of the appointments, but also with regularly oversight activities of Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the government.
The speaker also gave details of motions and resolutions passed by the House in the last one year, including;
1. Resolution calling on the Governor to (i) Set out security measures in place to forestall a recurrence of the destruction of farm lands and produce by Herdsmen in Abraka and its Environs which occurred on 17th August, 2023,and
(ii) Ensure that the peace, love and order that is presently prevailing in the communities be maintained.
2. Motion condemning rising incidence of open sex trade and use of illicit drugs among youths in Asaba and Environs.
3. Motion calling on the Governor to prohibit the use of styrofoam (also known as polystyrene) as cups, plates or any form of packaging for food or beverages in the State.
Those passed and assented to are the Supplementary Appropriation (Amendment) Bill, 2022, an additional Supplementary Appropriation Bill, 2022, and the Appropriation Bill, 2024 ,while those awaiting assent are the Delta State Merit Award Bill, 2023 ,Delta State Social Investment Programme Bill, 2023, Delta State Persons with Disability Bill, 2023, Delta State Polytechnic Burutu (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Delta State Administration of Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Delta State Administration of Civil Justice (Amendment) Bill, 2024 .
He noted that a total of fifteen Executive Bills and three Private Members Bills was received, out of which nine had been passed and three assented to.
He disclosed that eight of the remaining bills are sti under considerations before the House, while the last one was withdrawn by the sponsors. The list of the pending Bills he said are;
1. Delta State Urban and Regional Planning Bill, 2024.
2. Delta State Structures for Signage and Advertisement Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
3. Delta State Film and Video Control’s Board Bill, 2024
4. Delta State Registration and Regulation of Private Veterinary Clinics Bill, 2024.
5. Special Offences Court (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
6. Delta State Pet Control and Responsible Ownership Bill, 2024.
7. Delta State Human Trafficking (Prohibition) Bill, 2024.
8. Delta State Electricity Power Sector Bill, 2024.
9. Delta State Merit Award Scheme Bill, 2023 (HB.3) – withdrawn
Guwor who is also the Treasurer of Conference of Speakers of House of Assemblies said the bills are intended to imoact positively impact on Deltans both social, economic, Justice and environmental sectors.
“Let me use this opportunity to reiterate that the welfare of staff of the State Assembly Service Commission is a priority to the leadership and members of the House. The incident of last week is a fallout of a national issue about adoption of the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure ( CONLESS). The State Government has set up a Committee to work out details of implementation. The Committee is already wrapping up the assignment. So, it is not a peculiar issue to Delta State House of Assembly.
“For the record, the State Government is not owing or in arrears of salary payment to the staff of the Assembly. The House has consistently built the capacity of its workforce through training and retraining. We enjoy good working relationship with the staff of the House.
“I must also put it on record that the 8th Assembly is poised to deliver on its mandate of lawmaking, representation and oversight of government programmes, projects and policies. We will collaborate without compromising the independence of the Legislature, with the Executive arm of Government to ensure development gets to every part of the state.
“The House will always support government policies that will ameliorate the economic pains Nigerians cum Deltans have been subjected to in the last one year. We trust that the M.O.R.E Agenda of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. ( Elder) Sheriff Francis Orohwedor Oborevwori, our dear Governor, will deliver dividends of democracy to our people.
“As we move on to the second session , we are more than ever before prepared and propelled to discharge our duties and responsibilities and ensure that the policy trust of government ,which is in consonance with our Legislative agenda, is fully implemented for the benefit and good of Deltans.
“At this juncture, I want to commend the media for your good work. You have been a good partner with the House, in creating visibility and prominence for the Assembly’s activities in the media space, thank you so much. As members of the fourth estate of the realm and watch dog of society, I sincerely implore the media to use this vintaged position to support and safeguard the development and growth of the Legislature in order to deepen and sustain our democracy and democratic institutions. The Legislature is the hallmark of democracy, without it there cannot be true democracy.
“On this note, I want to thank you and use this opportunity to request you to join us and participate in the activities lined up to commemorate the First Anniversary of the 8th Assembly.
The Speaker thanked Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for his support for the growth of the Legislature and for sustaining the cordial working relationship between the Legislature and the Executive arms of Government, and especially for his avowed respect for the rule of law and the doctrine of separation of power.
The briefing was attended by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon Arthur Akpowowo; Principal Officers, Honourable members, the Acting Clerk of the House, and some management staff.