(By Nkem Nwaeke, broadcast on DBS Warri).
As constitutionally enshrined, the Delta State House of Assembly has continued to play its pivotal role in the peace, security, good governance and general development in the state.
As the year 2021 winds down, what are those issues that dominated the public space in the state legislature during the outgoing year?
The Assembly under the leadership of the Speaker, Rt Hon (Chief) Sherrif Oborevwori began the year 2021 with high hopes and strong determination to surpass the feats recorded in 2020 fiscal year.
Still battling with the disturbing narratives of the novel Covid 19 pandemic, the House reconvened for plenary for the year on Tuesday, 19th January 2021.
At that maiden session, the Speaker, while
commending Members for their exemplary commitment, patriotism and conduct in the face of various daunting challenges in the year 2020, charged the Lawmakers to be alive to the demands of their offices as a result of the critical and congested legislative timetable of the Assembly, stressing that the task before the House was enormous but not insurmountable.
He stressed “Hon Colleagues, we have a loaded agenda before this 7th Assembly and there are several issues to be addressed in this New Year. We have always performed our legislative duties for the common good of all. As we resume plenary today, we should be conscious of the demands of our office and as always be alive to them. Although we have a critical and congested legislative timetable ahead, we must be thorough in our work”.
It was on this note that the Lawmakers hit the ground running with the number of bills and motions that went through legislative procedures in 2021, starting with the accelerated actions on the three bills forwarded to the House on 25th of January for the establishment of three new universities in the state, including the University of Delta, Agbor, Dennis Osadebay University, Anwai-Asaba and the Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro.
From the records, the House before adjourning plenary for the 2021 Christmas break on 18th December, had attended to over twenty five bills and several motions, with most of the bills passed and assented to by the Governor, while others are at various stages of legislative processes.
Some of the bills include the earlier mentioned three that established three new universities in the state; Revised Appropriation Bill 2021; Traditional Rulers and Chiefs (Amendment) Bill; the Delta State Public Finance Management bill; Delta State Appropriation Bill 2022; Delta State House of Assembly Service Establishment Amendment Bill; Delta State Regulation of Community Development Associations Bill; Delta State Debt Management Bill; Delta State Erosion and Watershed Management Agency Bill; Delta State Urban and Regional Planning Bill; and Asaba Specialist Hospital Bill, 2021.
Others are the Delta State Urban and Regional Planning Bill; Delta State Livestock Breeding, Rearing and Marketing Regulation Bill; the State Legislature Financial Autonomy bill; the Judiciary Financial Autonomy bill; Delta State Environmental Conservation Bill; Delta State Printing and Publishing Corporation Amendment Bill; Delta State Forfeiture of Property Bill; Delta State Manufacture and use of Deep Canoes (Cotonou Boats) Bill and a Bill for a law to repeal the Delta State Audit Law 2018 and enact the Delta State Audit Law 2021, amongst others.
Motions brought under matters of Urgent Public Importance were vigorously debated and adopted by the House in 2021 as well as approvals of several requests made to it by the Governor during the period under review.
The House also within the period, screened and confirmed several appointments made by the Governor, including those of Civil Commissioners,
Justice Theresa Obiajulu Ogochukwu Diai as Chief Judge of the State, Justice Patience Onuwa Elumeze as President, Customary Court of Appeal as well as Chairmen and Members of some statutory Boards, Commissions and Agencies in the state.
One remarkable event that characterized the State Legislature in the outgoing year 2021 was the segmented Capacity Building Training/ Technical Workshops organized by the leadership of the House for various categories of Staff, both Political and Civil Servants in the State Legislature.
Those Capacity Building Workshops for Staff were besides the good number of trainings embarked upon by the Lawmakers both local and foreign, including the Advanced Leadership Program at the Moller Institute, Churchill College, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, which the Speaker said was to broaden the leadership skills of Members and expose them to the best-practices management strategies in engaging different Stakeholders in the course of their duties.
The trainings no doubt enhanced the workings in the House, even in the oversight functions of the Standing Committees and Members. More public hearings were organized after second reading of most of the bills to garner inputs of critical stakeholders in the enactment of the new laws.
Interested individuals, groups and associations that have been following the trend in the State Legislature, said the Seventh Delta State Assembly have been remarkably very active and effective with several different programs and activities, including the Hosting of Speakers of the thirty six states of the federation.
It is worthy of note that the Speaker, Delta State Assembly, Rt Hon Sherrif Oborevwori became the Deputy National Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Houses of Assembly in Nigeria, while the Clerk, Mrs Lyna Ocholor, a lawyer, is the Chairperson, College of Clerks of the State Houses of Assembly in Nigeria.
These positions of trust on the two Deltans and key officials in the Legislative arm of the Delta state government, no doubt raised standards and integrity of the House that ranks itself as the “Most Vibrant State Assembly”, in Nigeria.
Much were also achieved in the areas of effective synergy with the executive and judicial arms of government, sound industrial harmony among the workers and political class in the Assembly, face lifts of infrastructure at both the complex and members’ residential quarters, enhanced welfare packages of all categories of the workforce, upgrading of some existing facilities at the Assembly as well as the general ambiance in the Assembly environment amongst others.
During the period under review, the Speaker, Rt Hon Oborevwori also had more regular interactive sessions with the leadership of the Parliamentary Staff Union of Nigeria, PASAN, and its members. These interactive sessions afforded both members and staff opportunities to discuss issues of common concern and arrived at united front, even on matters that could have led to industrial unrest. All stakeholders have promised to sustain the camaraderie to promote more industrial harmony in the state legislature.
In showing appreciation for their support and hitch free activities all through 2021, the leadership of the House, on the 21st of December organized a sumptuous get together for staff and members of their families, where the Speaker, Rt Hon Oborevwori promised more efforts that would continue to enhance the cordial relationship that exists among workers in the state legislature.
” I wish to sincerely commend you the workers, particularly leaders of the State Parliamentary union. You will recall that since the past four years, workers within the State Assembly have never had a reason to embark on strike action. This is so because, we have been enjoying robust working relationship. “It is my sincerely hope that we sustain this relation in the interest of peace and harmony in the State” Oborevwori said.
On a sad note, the House during the period under review lost two sitting and two non-sitting members of the State Assembly.
The two sitting members were the then Majority Leader of the House, Sir Tim Kome Owhefere who represented Isoko North and the other also from Isoko nation, Kenneth Ogba who represented Isoko South One Constituency.
Both deceased Lawmakers passed on, on 27th January and 27th June 2021 respectively, the deaths that brought so much devastation in the Assembly.
The development led to the conduct of bye elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to fill in the vacant positions created by the demise of the two members.
Hon Jude Ogbimi, was elected for Isoko North, while Evuakporarie Evivie emerged victorious for the Isoko South One constituency.
Both Lawmakers were subsequently sworn in by the Speaker and have since resumed duties as representatives of the people.
The two deceased non sitting members were a one time Speaker of the House and former Acting Governor of the state, Rt Hon Sam Obi, a Prince of Ute-Okpu kingdom who represented Ika North East from 2003 to 2015 and Hon Dennis Omovie, a fourth termed member of the House, from 2003 to 2019.
Similar to those of Owhefere and Ogba, a valedictory session was held for Sam Obi at the hallowed chamber of the Assembly being a former Presiding Officer of the House.
The House also participated fully in all programs in honor of the late Hon Dennis Omovie.
The Speaker, Rt Hon Sherrif Oborevwori before hitting the last gavel for the year 2021 on December 18th, had expressed optimism for a glorious 2022 fiscal year devoid of sad news but happenings that would further enhance the development strides of government across the state.
On Thursday 21st October 2021, in his remarks during the presentation of the 2022 Delta State Appropriation Bill by the Governor, the Speaker assured that the gains of 2021 will be consolidated in 2022.
“Your Excellency sir, there is no doubt year 2021 has been very challenging as a result of the continued effect of the Covid-19, adverse market forces on our crude oil, erratic forex exchange rate and unconscionable inflation. In spite of the challenges, we must commend Your Excellency for the Laudable Projects and infrastructural developments in the State within the period under review. Your Excellency, we want to commend you for the completion and commissioning of roads and other physical infrastructural developments across the three Senatorial Districts of the State. On behalf of our constituents, we also wish to thank you for the several skills acquisition programs and start up packs you have made available for Deltans and other residents.
“Delta State enjoys enormous peace because your administration is running a transparent and accountable system of government where everybody is important no matter his or her status. Your choice of dialogue as a tool in the development and growth of the State is highly commendable. On this note Your Excellency, I want to assure you that the Legislature will continue to support your policies and programs for the sustained development of the State. We will continue to cooperate with the Executive while also maintaining our power as a House”, Oborevwori stated.
The House is expected to reconvene plenary on Tuesday, 18th January 2022, also with high hopes of more positive development in the 29 Member State Legislative House.