Two Bills, Delta State Forfeiture of property Bill and Delta State Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response Bill have been read the third time and passed on the floor of the State Assembly.
Also at plenary, presided over by the Speaker, Sheriff Oborevwori, the House Screened and confirmed Mr Azaka Ossai as a member of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC.
The Delta State Forfeiture of property Bill is to provide for a law for the forfeiture of property used for illegal storage of crude oil in the state.
While the State Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response Bill seeks to provide for effective surveillance and response of maternal and parental deaths and related matters in the state.
The third readings and subsequent passage of both bills were moved by the House Leader, Ferguson Onwo and unanimously adopted.
Order 12, House rules 82 and 83 had earlier been suspended to enable the House pass the two Bills.
The Speaker, Rt Hon Sherriff Oborevwouri thanked members for their cooperation saying that the State forfeiture of property Bill when signed into law would help check oil bunkering and ensure that those who use or provide their property to commit an offense are held liable.
On the Delta State Maternal and Perinatal Deaths Surveillance and Response Bill, Rt Hon Oborevwori said the proposed law would among other things help fish out quacks in the state health sector.
Speaking on the import of the State Maternal and Perinatal Deaths Surveillance and Response Bill, the Chairman, Assembly Committee on Health, Hon Augustine Uroye said the passage of the Bill was apt, as the essence of government is to protect the lives and property of it’s citizens.
Hon Uroye explained that the proposed law will enable the state have comprehensive knowledge of rates and causes of deaths of pregnant women, nursing mothers and child during delivery in the state and seek permanent check on such related deaths.
He commended the State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi OKowa for forwarding the executive bill to the House and his colleagues for it quick passage, stressing that the proposed law will in no small way help build greater confidence in the Delta State health sector.
Also at plenary, the House screened and confirmed Mr Azaka Ossai as a member of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC.
Mr Ossai who hails from Ndokwa East was introduced for the screening exercise by the former Deputy Speaker and member representing Ndokwa East in the House, Rt Hon Friday Osanebi, supported by the Deputy Speaker and member representing Ukwuani constituency, Ochor Christopher Ochor.
The motion for the confirmation of the Desopadec nominee was moved by the Majority leader Hon Ferguson Onwo, seconded by the member representing Ndokwa West, Hon Charles Emetulu and adopted.
The appointment of Mr Azaka Ossai, according to the Governor’s letter to the House was sequel to the demise of the former member representing Ndokwa East in the Desopadec board.
The House committee on Power and Energy chaired by the member representing Isoko South 1 constituency, Hon Evuokporaye Evive submitted it’s report on Delta State Electric Power section reform Bill.
The Speaker had read a letter from the Clerk of the National Assembly asking for the adoption of the 5th Alteration already passed by the upper and lower Chambers, by the State Assembly.
Consideration of the message as contained in the letter has been deferred to a later date.