Delta and Bayelsa States Houses of Assembly have restated their resolve to encouraging policies and programmes that promote peace, progress and development in the two states.
The two Houses also reaffirmed earlier positions that the MORE agenda of the Delta State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori and the ASSURED agenda of Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, should enjoy the support and backings of the House.
Speaker of both States Assembly, Rt Hon Emomotimi Guwor, Delta and Rt Hon Abraham Ingobere, Bayelsa, stated this in their separate address at the opening session of a retreat and training workshop for members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, holding in Asaba, Delta State.
Rt Hon Guwor in his goodwill message, said Delta State and Bayelsa States are contiguous as they share so many characteristics in common, including environments and cultures.
He explained that the people and challenges bear so much resemblance, hence the need for effective collaboration that would improve standards of living and infrastructural development in the two states.
“I convey to you, warm greetings from the Delta State House of Assembly. And I welcome you to the beautiful city of Asaba, the home of entertainment and cultural bliss.
“I sincerely thank my brother Speaker and the leadership of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly for extending this invitation to me. This is an evidence of our brotherhood and cordial relations.
“I have looked at the theme of your retreat which says: “Delivery Governor Douye Diri’s ASSURED Agenda through the State Budget”. There is no denying the fact that the ASSURED Agenda of His Excellency, the Governor of Bayelsa State is a well thought out policy document for the development of Bayelsa State”, Guwor stated.
The Delta Speaker maintained that the Legislature has a critical role to play in implementing any developmental agenda, saying that one of such roles is the budget processing by the House.
Guwor described the Legislature as the bedrock of democracy, stressing that a healthy, credible and knowledgeable Legislature is indispensable for democratic governance.
“A cursory glance at the agenda of the retreat reveals that it is packaged to facilitate understanding of the nitty gritty of the budget process for your Members. I am confident that this programme will scale up the capacity of the House regarding the Fiscal Strategy Paper, the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and the budget itself.
“I am happy to inform you that two weeks ago, Members of the Delta State House of Assembly were also in this hall for similar retreat.
“I can see that African Parliamentary Resource Centre, led by John Mutu is facilitating the programme. I have no doubt in his capacity to deliver. He is a proud son of the Niger Delta with deep knowledge of legislative jurisprudence”, he said.
Rt Hon Guwor urged the visiting Bayelsa Lawmakers to take some leisure of their time to explore the ambience and sound of the city of Asaba and wished them fruitful deliberations.
For his part, the Bayelsa Speaker, Rt Hon Abraham Ingobere, said the retreat serves as a re-orientation course to equip members with the fundamentals of lawmaking and oversight functions.
He explained that as lawmakers, they have a constitutional mandate to represent their constituents, making laws that will improve the lives of the people and protect the environment.
The Bayelsa Speaker therefore urged all to be attentive and assimilate the legislative processes that will be presented in the course of the programme, stressing that the training will be of great benefit to the state.
“Again, today we are gathered here for another retreat workshop of the 7th Bayelsa State House of Assembly.
“As parliamentarians, we must stay adaptable in our dynamic society. Let us work together across party lines, remembering our service is to those who entrusted us with their future. I sincerely thank the organizers for putting this laudable project together”, Ingobere stated.
The lead resource person and President African Parliamentary Resource Centre, Mr John Mutu, assured of robust engagement with the Bayelsa Lawmakers.