The Delta State House of Assembly on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, passed into law the Delta State Merit Award Scheme.
The House also repealed the Delta State Merit Award Law of 1989 Cap. D30, laws of Delta State, 2008.
Sponsor of the bill, Hon. Engr. Emeka Emmanuel Nwaobi, the Majority Leader of the House in a statement said; ” It is the first Private Member Bill to be passed in the 8th Assembly.
“The Delta State Merit Award Scheme Law has the mandate and capacity to reward hard work amongst the citizens of the State who have distinguished themselves in their fields of endeavours.
“A lot of our people have excelled in various fields of human endeavours – Engineering, Medicine, Law, Business, Media, Humanity, name it, and this Merit Award Law has provided the State a platform to recognise and reward integrity in contributing to the development of such fields”.
He noted that one very important aspect of the Law is making it impossible for persons in government- Executive, Legislative or Judicial Offices to be eligible for this honour while still in office. For such a person to qualify, he must have ceased to hold such office, and after five (5) years, he would be deemed fit to be nominated for this honour.
Hon. Engr. Nwaobi further stated that with the bill passed into law, it is a time for our heroes past and present to celebrate because, the profound State Award would bring dignity into all the achievements of their life time.
He said in a nutshell, the goal and objective of the Law is to give award to deserving personalities and corporate bodies that have made outstanding contributions to the growth and development of the State.
“This Law also provides for posthumous award to Deltans who are dead but excelled in their chosen professions or did something extraordinary to save lives and property while they lived”. He said.
The Majority leader also congratulated the 8th Assembly in Delta State for another milestone achievement.