The Delta State Printing and Publishing Corporation Amendment Bill has been read the third time and passed at the floor of the State House of Assembly.
With the amendment, the tenure of the management board of the Printing and Publishing Corporation is now three years, from the two year tenure provided in the principal law.
The Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Hon Kenneth Oboro Preyor, had while dwelling on the merits of the amendment bill, informed the House that section 4, sub section 3 of the Delta State Printing and Publishing Corporation Law, provided a two year tenure for the management board of the corporation, the publishers of the Pointer Newspaper.
The Lawmaker who represents Bomadi Constituency in the Hallowed Chamber, explained that the said section 4, sub section 3 of principal law that was enacted in 2007 was being amended to bring the tenure of the board to 3 years in tandem with other similar boards in the state.
Describing the one line amendment as key to promoting efficiency in the management of the Printing and Publishing Corporation, Hon Preyor also gave updates on the interpretation clauses of the proposed new law.
The Deputy Majority Leader, upon the adoption of the second reading of the amendment bill, moved for suspension of rule 12, order 78 to 83 to enable the House take the third reading of the bill and passed.
The motion was unanimously adopted, even as the Speaker, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori commended the Deputy Majority Leader, Hon Oboro Preyor for his commitment and dexterity at ensuring that the primary function of the House do not suffer set back.
In a related development, the State Assembly, at Wednesday’s plenary took the second reading of a bill to repeal the Delta State Judiciary Fund Management Financial Autonomy Law 2019 and Enact the Delta State Judiciary Fund Management Financial Autonomy Law 2021.
The 21 sections draft bill was forwarded to the State Legislature last Tuesday by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa who expressed confidence that the House would take expedited action on the bill by considering and passing it into law at earliest convenience.
The bill seeks to provide for the management of funds accruing to the Delta State judiciary from the consolidated revenue fund of Delta State to ensure accountability, transparency, effective and efficient utilization of the funds and other matters connected therewith.
The Deputy Majority Leader, Oboro Kenneth Preyor while leading debates on the merits of the bill, disclosed that the Delta State Judiciary Fund Management Financial Autonomy Law 2019 did not give details on the finances accruing to the judiciary, hence it is being repealed for a new law.
Hon Preyor stated that autonomy and funds management have become a very popular concepts in the country, saying that clause three of the bill provides for the setting up of fund management committee for the judiciary.
He said everything needed for proper management of finances accruing to the state judiciary are embedded in the proposed new law, aimed at ensuring better refined democratic system in the state.
Honorables Reuben Izeze, Ughelli South, Pat Ajudua, Oshimili North, Festus Okoh, Ika South and Solomon Ighrakpata, Uvwie, who also spoke on the merits of the bill, said democracy is dynamic, hence the need to kept on updating the laws of the land.
Hon Izeze explained that the proposed law is to make the implementation of financial autonomy for the judiciary easy, stressing that separation of powers, rule of law and autonomy for judiciary is very important to the growth of democracy.
Hon Ajudua said the bill seeks to provide legal backing to the proposed setting up of the State Accounts Allocation Committee, SAAC for the Judiciary, saying that membership of the funds management board will be all embracing.
For his part, Hon Okoh stated that the proposed law will address the challenges of too much bureaucracy in government as the Chief Judge of the state do not need to raise memos to executive arm of government for funds to run the judiciary, describing the bill as apt and timely.
Hon Ighrakpata in his contributions, disclosed that the bill was a fallout of the memorandum of understanding signed by stakeholders that brought to end months of industrial action by judicial workers union, pointing out that the proposed law would ensure accountability and transparency in the financial management of the judiciary.
The Speaker, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori who commended the robust debate on the bill, referred it to joint House Committee on Special Bills and Establishment, Ethics and Privileges for further legislative actions.
Governor Okowa had in a letter conveying the bill to the House said it is the desire of the state government to ensure the full implementation of the judiciary fund management financial autonomy in the state.
He disclosed that the proposed law deals with establishment, membership and responsibilities of the State Accounts Allocation Committee, SAAC, which is a new creation designed to midwife the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee at the federal level.
Dr Okowa explained that the bill amongst other things provides for issuance of warrant by the Governor, authorizing the Accountant General to release directly into the Judiciary Statutory Accounts, all monthly capital and recurrent expenditures due to the judiciary as allocated by SAAC as well as give powers to the judiciary to manage its expenditures in accordance with the law.
Meanwhile, the House has confirmed the appointment of Mr Augustin Ogochukwu Okom as Secretary to Ndokwa West Local Government Council.
The confirmation followed a motion to that effect by the Deputy Majority Leader, Oboro Preyor after the screening of the nominee during plenary of the House presided by the Speaker, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori.