Delta State House of Assembly, Tuesday resumed plenary after five weeks recess with a call on members to be up and doing at ensuring steady growth of democratic governance in the state.
Speaker, Rt Hon Emomotimi Guwor while welcoming the lawmakers to the Hallowed Chamber, urged all to be mindful as the task ahead will be challenging but not insurmountable.
Guwor who recalled that the House had adjourned for recess on the 2nd of August, 2023, said the break became necessary for members to settle down for legislative business.
The Speaker reflected on the professional disposition of members in the screening of Commissioner nominees and other appointees of government, before the recess, saying that they did a perfect job and is proud to be an integral part of the 8th Assembly.
He said the House is not unaware of the hardship Deltans and indeed Nigerians are going through as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy, stressing that members feel the pains especially as the primary purpose in government is to ensure the security and welfare of the people.
The Speaker on behalf of the Legislature commended Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for his ingenuity in approving the sum of ten billion naira as palliative for constituents and pledged continued support of the legislature to the Executive arm of government in policies and programmes that will promote development and wellbeing of the people.
Guwor noted that members were expected to have taken advantage of the recess to interact with their constituents with the hope of making them share in the vision of the M.O.R.E Agenda of the state government.
He enjoined the lawmakers to deliberately encourage constituents to feel ownership and full participation in government, even as he stressed the need for them to always be guided by oath of membership of the House as they carry out their duty of lawmaking, oversight and representation.
Meantime, the House at the plenary screened and confirmed the appointments of nominees for the reconstituted Governing Board of the Delta State Local Government Service Commission.
They include Mr Joseph Otirue as chairman, while Anslem Nwokenye, Dame Minnie Igbrude, and Philomena Ededey were confirmed as 1st, 2nd and 3rd Members respectively.
Also screened and got their appointments confirmed, were Governor’s nominees for the reconstituted Delta State Independent Electoral Commission, DSIEC.
They include Mr Jerry Agbaike, Chairman, James Umukoro, Friday Edmund Seimode, Light Diden, Imasua Azogbulem, Chris Onwuma and Frank Oru as members.
The nominees were presented on the floor of the House for the screening exercise by lawmakers representing their various constituencies who affirmed knowledge about their personalities and integrity.
Motions for their confirmations were moved by the Majority Leader of the House, Hon Emeka Nwaobi and adopted.
Speaker Emomotimi Guwor congratulated the new appointees for their appointments, and commended the lawmakers for the painstaking screening exercise.
He charged the appointees to be diligent in the task ahead and help deliver on the MORE agenda of Governor Sheriff Oborevrwori’s administration.
In a related development, a Bill for additional Supplementary Budget for the Delta State 2023 Fiscal year, has passed first reading on the floor of the State House of Assembly
The proposed additional supplementary bill of N166.5 Billion was forwarded to the State Assembly by the Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori for consideration and possible passage by the House.
The letter conveying the 2023 additional supplementary budget of N166.5 Billion, was read at resumed plenary of the House by the Speaker, Rt Hon Emomotimi Guwor.
The proposed bill as contained in the letter, consist of N120.2 Billion as Capital expenditures and, N46.3 Billion as Recurrent expenditures.
Governor Oborevwori explained that the additional supplementary budget had become necessary as it is aimed at furthering the MORE agenda of the present administration.
The Speaker, Emomotimi Guwor announced Thursday 7th September 2023 as date for second reading of the bill.
It would be recalled that the State Assembly, earlier in May, this year, passed a N71 Billion Supplementary appropriation Bill for the 2023 Fiscal year ending December 31.
Also at Tuesday’s Plenary, the House received a letter from the State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori nominating Dr Austin Obidi and Isaac Akporveta as Chairman and Director General of the Delta State Contributory Health Commission Board.
The Speaker asked the nominees to submit 35 copies of their curriculum Vitae to reach the office of the Clerk of the Assembly on or before Monday, September 11 and appear for screening on Tuesday, September 12.
The House adjourned sitting till Thursday this week.