Delta State House of Assembly has reaffirmed its commitment to upholding uncommon diligence and unity of purpose in discharging its legislative duties.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Dennis Guwor, stated this during a press briefing held at the Assembly Complex, marking the 2nd Anniversary of the 8th Assembly.
In discharge of its constitutional duties of lawmaking, representation, and oversight, the Speaker, supported by lawmakers, affirmed that the 8th Assembly has developed a collaborative strategy with the Executive Arm of Government to enhance infrastructural and human capital development in the 29 constituencies throughout the state.
Rt. Hon. Guwor emphasized that the 8th Assembly’s diligent and unified approach to its legislative duties over the past two years underscores its strong commitment to effectively and efficiently executing its constitutional mandates.
During the period in question, he noted that the House considered, debated and approved several bills aimed at advancing education, healthcare, youth empowerment, infrastructural development, environmental protection, strengthened security and economic development.
Highlighting some of the 8th Assembly’s accomplishments, Rt. Hon. Guwor stated that the House received a total of 16 bills, comprising 8 Executive and 8 private member bills, out of which 7 have been passed and 6 have been assented to by the state Governor, while others are at various stages of legislative scrutiny.
He also noted that the house received a total of 72 motions, 69 of which have been approved.
The Speaker announced that the house also screened and confirmed Commissioner nominees, as well as Chairmen, Director Generals and members of Agencies, Board and Commissions.
See address below:
ADDRESS BY THE HONOURABLE SPEAKER , RT. HON. GUWOR EMOMOTIMI DENNIS, AT THE PRESS BRIEFING TO MARK THE SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF THE 8TH ASSEMBLY, AT THE ASSEMBLY PRESS CENTRE, HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY COMPLEX, ASABA, ON FRIDAY, 13TH JUNE, 2025
Protocol:
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it is with profound gratitude to God Almighty and a deep sense of responsibility that I address you today as we commence activities to mark the Second Anniversary of the 8th Assembly. I warmly welcome you all to this Press Briefing.
Two years ago, the 8th Assembly was inaugurated on the 13th of June, 2023. On the strength of the people’s trust and confidence, we commenced a new legislative journey, one filled with promise, expectations, and a commitment to deepen democracy and enhance good governance in our dear State.
Today marks the end of the 8th Assembly midterm, and therefore, we are gathered here to kick-start activities to commemorate the end of the Second Session of the 8th Assembly. The activities lined up to celebrate this milestone are:
(1) Press Briefing – which is taking place at the moment.
(2) Novelty Football Match between Delta State House of Assembly and the Members of the State Executive Council, at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba on 21st June, 2025.
(3) Thanksgiving Service at the Redeemed Christain Church of God, Region 34 Headquarters, Unity Model Parish, Behind Junior Staff Quarters, Asaba, and Reception at the Legislators quarters, Okpanam Road, on Sunday, 22nd June, 2025.
Today’s event is unique and valuable to the House. It is a veritable opportunity to brief Deltans and the general public, through the media, on how far we fared in our constitutional duties of lawmaking, representation and oversight in the Second Session of the 8th Assembly. One striking feature of this Assembly is the “8th Assembly Legislative Agenda”, a strategic policy document of the House, consciously tagged “Our Bond with Deltans”. In that document, we restated our commitment to accountability and transparency in all our actions as a House.
Consequently, this Briefing will be open and interactive. For the benefit of our constituents across the State, this Press Briefing is being streamed live on Facebook and Youtube https: //www.youtube.com/live//y4TNaXiNVE
Gentlemen of the Press, as I have mentioned earlier, our constitutional duties are lawmaking, representation and oversight of other arms of government. In the course of the Second Session, Members of the 8th Assembly prioritized representation but not neglecting lawmaking and oversight. In this vein, the 8th Assembly strategically aligned with the Executive arm in delivering infrastructural and human capital development in all the twenty nine constituencies in the State.
The House was able to achieve this feat through the power of appropriation enshrined in section 121 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered). In doing so, the House subjected the 2025 Appropriation Bill presented by His Excellency, Rt. Hon. (Elder) Sheriff Francis Orohwedor Oborevwori, Governor of Delta State, to scrutiny and analysis, and appropriated funds, for implementation of the policy, programmes and projects of Government in line with the M.O.R.E Agenda.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, you will agree with me that there is no Constituency in the State that has not benefited from the appropriation of funds by the House in terms of government projects. When the Governor visited the House to present the state of the State Address on 28th May, 2025 he listed all the empowerment programmes and projects (both completed and ongoing).
Gentlemen of the Press, the 8th Assembly believes in the effective and efficient service delivery of its constitutional mandate. In order to process and pass bills that meet international standard, we emphasize capacity building of the bureaucracy by training and retraining of the staff. These trainings are also extended to legislative aides of Members as well as Honourable Members themselves. In the period under review, we have trained Committee Clerks in report writing, organizing investigative and public hearing, and oversight functions. The House has also trained legislative aides to Honourable Members in legislative practice and procedures.
Also, the management staff of the House were trained in parliamentary administration and management by the foremost legislative institute in West Africa sub region, the National Institute For Legislative and Democratic studies, Abuja. The newly elected executives of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), Delta State chapter, were also accorded training in industrial harmony in the workplace. Honourable Members have also enjoyed the privilege of training in leadership, effective communication, budget processing and general practice and procedures of parliament. There is also an approval and release of funds for the training of the entire staff of the Assembly and the Commission for this year.
Above all, His Excellency, the Governor, has also approved payment of Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS) for Staff of the Legislature to enhance the welfare of and service delivery by the staff.
The impact of all of this has rightly placed us as the most vibrant House of Assembly in Nigeria. The quality of the Bills we have passed into law says it all. Like they say in Latin, “Res ipsa loquitur.”
Gentlemen of the Press, in the Second Session, the 8th Assembly has demonstrated uncommon diligence and unity of purpose in the discharge of our legislative duties. We have received, considered and passed a number of impactful bills and motions that directly touch the lives of Deltans. These are critical bills passed into laws to promote education, healthcare, youth empowerment, infrastructural development, environmental protection, security and economic development.
Here are the details of the bills received and passed by the House in the period under review. The House received a total of sixteen Bills, eight Executive Bills and eight Private Member’s bills. Out of the sixteen Bills, seven were passed by the House and six of them were assented to by His Excellency, the Governor; while one is being prepared for the assent of the Governor. The remaining eight are under going consideration by the House. However, nine bills that were received by the House in the First Session scaled Third Reading and Passed and were also assented to by the Governor in the period under review. The bills passed and assented to by the Governor are:
1. Delta State Child Rights’ ( Amendment) Law, 2024
2. 2023 Amended Revised Appropriation Law, 2024
3. Delta State College of Health Technology Ovrode Law, 2024
4. Southern Delta University, Ozoro ( Establishment) Law, 2024
5. Appropriation Law, 2025
6. Supplementary Appropriation Law, 2024
7. Delta State Polytechnic Burutu (Amendment) Law, 2024
8. Delta State Urban and Regional Planning Law, 2024
9. Delta State Structure for Signage and Advertisement Agency (Amendment) Law, 2024
10. Delta State Film and Video Censor’s Board Law, 2024
11. Delta State Registration and Regulation of Private Vertinary Clinics Law, 2024
12. Special Offences Court (Amendment) Law, 2024
13. Delta State Pet Control and Responsible Ownership Law, 2024
14. Delta State Human Trafficking ( Prohibition) Law, 2024
15. Delta State Electricity Power Sector Law, 2024.
The culminative effect of all these laws is to entrench good governance, ensure the rule of law, instill Law and order, preserve the rights of the child, prevent human trafficking, promote the welfare and security of the people, provide more opportunity for tertiary education to the youth, ensure availability and accessibility of regular uninterrupted electricity supply to homes and businesses, facilitate development in all the key sectors of the State and generally ensure prosperity to all Deltans in line with the M.O.R.E Agenda.
Similarly, in the period under review, the House received a total of seventy-two motions. And after robust debate by Members, sixty-nine were approved.
During the Second Session, the House also received nominees for appointment as Honourable Commissioners and Members of the State Executive Council. After thorough screening by the House, the nominees were confirmed accordingly. Likewise, nominees for appointment as Chairmen/Director General/ Members
of Agencies, Boards and Commissions were received, screened and confirmed by the House.
In order to strengthen the administration of the twenty-five Local Government Councils in the State, the House also received for screening, nominees for appointment as Secretaries to the Local Government Councils. The nominees were duly screened and confirmed according to extant laws.
Furthermore, the House under this period also received six Petitions from some of our constituents on issues relating to seniority in appointment of head of personnel management in Isoko North; illegal dismissal from the services of Delta State University, Abraka; alleged illicit printing and sales of Delta State Local Government Council Motorized Emblem; alleged unjust termination of appointment and removal of name from the payroll of Hospital Management Board; alleged stoppage of salary and removal of name from the payroll of the Delta State Government by the Office of the Accountant General; and alleged trespass on cooperative landed properties in Achala Ibusa. These Petitions were referred to the Public Petitions Committee of the House. After thorough investigation and consideration by the Committee, following the due process of the law, reports of their findings and recommendations were laid before the House in plenary. These reports were subjected to critical debate by Members to ensure justice. The House passed resolutions to remedy the injustice in some Petitions that have merit and dismissed the ones without merit.
Gentlemen of the Press, I want to reiterate that the primary purpose of government is to provide and guarantee peace, security and welfare of the people. Lately, some parts of the State have experienced and being inundated with security breaches and concerns. I wish to convey the sympathy of the House to the families of those who lost their loved ones to these unfortunate incidence. In response to this menace, the House has introduced a bill to amend the Delta State Community Security Corps Agency, Law. It has passed first and second reading and was recommitted to a Joint Committee of the House on Special Bills, and Peace and Security for in-depth consideration. The gravamen of the bill is recruitment of indigenes who are familiar with the terrain in each Local Government Area to assist Law enforcement agencies in providing intelligence and security in the State.
Permit me to seize this opportunity to comment on the issue pertaining to delineation of wards in the Warri Federal Constituency.
Delineation of wards is part of the democratic process and therefore should not be a source of conflict among brothers and sisters. To everyone in Warri Federal Constituency, I urge restraint, dialogue, and maturity in the issue of wards delineation. The matter is already being handled by relevant Federal government agencies. Let us give peace a chance. Surely, peace is not weakness, it is strength guided by wisdom. Whether you are Ijaw, Itsekiri or Urhobo , our unity remains our strength.
Gentlemen of the Press, beyond lawmaking, the 8th Assembly has remained steadfast in performing its oversight functions, by ensuring that the Executive arm of government delivers on its policies, programmes and projects. We have visited project sites, interrogated budget performance, and held public hearings to promote transparency, accountability, and inclusive governance.
Again, in our representative role, we have maintained close contact with our constituents, bringing their concerns to the floor of the House, and ensuring that their voices are heard and their needs addressed.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I wish to let you know that the 8th Assembly has enjoyed steady and meaningful progress. Surely, we are one big family under the Renewed Hope for M.O.R.E Agenda of Mr. President, His Excellency, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR and our dear Governor, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. ( Elder) Sheriff Francis Orohwedor Oborevwori, respectively. Let me specially thank His Excellency, the Governor, for his progressive leadership, and for the synergy and cordial working relationship between the House and the Executive. We have enjoyed tremendous independence and support from the Governor in doing our work.
I want to also extend my heartfelt appreciation to my Honourable colleagues for your unwavering support, cooperation, and dedication. Your patriotism and steadfastness to our Legislative Agenda have been the engine of our achievements. I cannot wish for a better set of colleagues than you. Thank you.
Let me also thank the management and staff of the Assembly for their diligence and hard work. In the same vein, I also thank our legislative aides for their continued support to Members. I wish to equally extend my appreciation to our constituents, whose prayers, supports and trust have made our work meaningful.
Gentlemen of the Press, I cannot thank the media enough for always giving visibility to the activities of the House. Through the network of your medium, the debate, resolutions and proceedings of the House are easily accessible by our constituents. You make our work easy.
Finally, I wish to thank God Almighty for the success of the Second Session of the 8th Assembly. To Him alone be all the glory.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, as the 8th Assembly begins the Third Session, we will continue to legislate for the development, peace and progress of Delta State.
On this note, I thank you all for honouring our invitation and for your kind attention.
God bless Delta State House of Assembly!
God bless Delta State!!
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!!
Rt. Hon. Guwor Emomotimi Dennis,
Speaker,
Delta State House of Assembly.