The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Delta House of Assembly

  • Delta Assembly passes FoI bill

    The Delta State House of Assembly has passed the State Freedom of Information Bill.

    The Bill is for a law to make public records and information freely available, provide for public access to public records and information.

    It is also meant to protect public records and information to the extent that is consistent with public interest and the protection of personal privacy; protect serving public officers from adverse consequences of disclosing certain kinds of official information without authorisation and establish procedures for achievement of these purposes and related matters.

    The Bill’s passage followed the consideration of the report of the Joint House Committee of the whole on the bill titled Delta State Freedom of Information Bill following a motion moved by majority leader Tim Owhefere and seconded by Rueben Izeze.

    Delta Speaker, Sheriff Oborevwori, said that members resolved at the committee of the whole the house should suspend the rules and pass the bill.

    Majority Leader Tim Owhefere thereafter moved separate motions for the house to suspend orders 77, 78 and 79 and take the third reading to enable the house pass the bill.

    The motions were seconded by Samuel Marierie and Kennedy Daubry and adopted through voice vote.

  • Delta assembly approves state govt.’s N3b loan

    Delta House of Assembly on Tuesday approved the request of Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa for N3 billion short-term loan facility for the financing of priority road projects in the state.

    The House at plenary presided over by the Speaker,  Chief Sheriff Oborevwori in Asaba, also approved Okowa’s request to guarantee a credit facility to be obtained by the Delta Line Transport Services Limited.

    The approval of the request, which was contained in a letter read by the speaker during the plenary, followed a resolution passed by the Assembly.

    According to Okowa, there is urgent need for the state government to support some of its road’s contractors in accessing financing to aid accelerated execution of critical projects before the onset of the rainy season.

    ” The request has become expedient considering the almost N3 billion drop in federation accounts receipt in January 2019 when compared to December 2018 which had hindered planned disbursement to the contractors.

    ”Most of the contractors are already on site and have generated payment certificate for works already executed which are yet to be defrayed,” he said.

    Okowa said that the funds were required to make progress in the relevant project execution, adding that the state executive council at its meeting of February 5, 2019 considered and approved that the state government should support certain contractors for the state’s critical priority projects.

    Okowa said: ”In obtaining the short-term loan facility amounting to N3 billion only from Zenith Bank with the state government bearing the cost associated with the facility  as requested by the contractors.”

    The Majority Leader, Mr Tim Owhefere thereafter moved separate motions for the House to receive the governor’s request for further consideration and approval.

    The motion, which was adopted through a voice vote by the Assembly, was seconded by Mr Emeka Nwaobi, representing Aniocha North constituency in the state House of Assembly.

    Also at plenary on Tuesday, the Assembly approved Gov. Okowa’s request to guarantee credit facility to be obtained by the Delta Line Transport Service Limited.

    The request was also contained in a letter read by the speaker during plenary.

    Okowa said that the loan was in a bid to revamp the ailing Delta transport service which had over the years relied on continuous assistance from the state government to meet salaries and other recurrent expenditure obligations as well as capital expenditure despite being a business that should generate revenue.

    He said that the State government sold 60 per cent equity of the Delta Line to God is Good Motors Transport Development Company by way of a public-private partnership arrangement with the state government retaining 40 per cent equity in the company.

    The governor said that sequel to the sale which involved defrayment of outstanding commitments including salaries arrears, the new management of Delta line submitted a five-year business plan, among other things.

    Okowa said that the business plan envisaged an immediate capital injection of N4. 9 billion for the procurement of 130 commuter buses as well as the renovation and establishment of 18 terminals with information technology infrastructure and furnishing across the country.

    The House approved the request following a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Mr Tim Owhefere and seconded by Mr Peter Onwusanya.(NAN)

  • Delta Assembly approves N1.9b for stadium

    The Delta House of Assembly yesterday approved the request of N1.9 billion for the completion of Asaba township stadium brought to it by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

    The request of the governor was contained in a letter read during plenary by Speaker Sheriff Oborevwori.

    Okowa said despite the huge investment in the Asaba township project, which was inherited from his predecessors, the project was yet to be completed.

    He said his administration was determined to complete the project, adding that when completed, it will boost sports activities.

    The governor said the contract was awarded at the cost of N1.9 billion, with a completion period of four months ending in December.

    He said the government would make payment to the contractor for a period of 18 months through an Irrevocable Standing Payment Order (ISPO).

    According to him, the State Executive Council at its 10th meeting on June 20 and June 21 approved the funding approach and issuance of the Irrevocable Standing Payment Order ISPO, subject to the ratification of the Assembly.

    Okowa solicited the support of the Assembly for speedy completion of the project.

    The Majority leader, Mr. Tim Owhefere, who moved a motion for the House to receive the letter for further consideration, said the letter was of necessity, as it will further promote sports development.

    He said the government was looking at alternative ways of funding projects despite paucity of funds, which should be encouraged.

    The motion was unanimously adopted when put to voice vote by the Speaker.

     

     

     

  • Delta Assembly passes 18 bills in 12 months – Speaker

    Delta Assembly passes 18 bills in 12 months – Speaker

    The 6th Assembly of the Delta House of Assembly says out of the 34 bills received in the last 12 months, it passed 18.

    The Speaker of the Assembly, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori announced this while briefing newsmen on the activities of the assembly as it marks its second anniversary on Thursday in Asaba.

    Oborevwori said that out of the 18 bills passed by the assembly, 12 of them had received assent by Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa, while the remaining six were waiting for his assent.

    He said that some of the bills, which had been assented to by the governor included the Delta State Economic Planning Council Amendment Law, 2015 and the Delta State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy Law.

    Oborevwori said that the Delta State Anti-kidnapping and Hostage bill was also passed into law.

    He said that bills awaiting the governor’s assent included the Delta state agency for control of HIV/AIDS Bill, 2016 and the Delta State Bureau for Lands Instrument Preparation Charges Bill.

    Oborevwori assured the governor that the assembly would continue to maintain a cordial working relationship with the executive arm of government.

    He further assured the people of the state of the assembly’s readiness to improve on its performance as it commenced the third legislative year.

    Oborevwori said that the remaining 16 bills, which had not been passed by the house, were at various committee stages.

    The speaker assured people of the state that the assembly would continue to do that which was expected of them as lawmakers.

    “We are aware that the people of the state are looking forward to the delivery of more dividends of democracy and it is in our place to make it happen.

    “Despite the harsh economic situation which has affected service delivery, the assembly remains committed to providing effective representation to our constituencies,’’ he said.

    Oborevwori said that in the next parliamentary year, the house would ensure that it retained its focus and engage in deliberations and matters that would improve the fortune of the state.

  • Okowa signs 2017 Delta budget

    Okowa signs 2017 Delta budget

    Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta on Tuesday signed the 2017 Delta Appropriation bill of N294.4billion into law after it was passed by the State House of Assembly in February.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Okowa had in November 2016 sent a budget proposal of N270.9billion to the State House of Assembly, but the lawmakers, however, amended the budget with an increment of N23.5billion.

    At a ceremony held at the Executive Chambers, Government House, Asaba, Okowa expressed hope that the 2017 appropriation law would help position the state on the part of economic recovery.

    He said his administration would continue to do its best in promoting transparency and good governance, adding that priority attention would be given to construction and reconstruction of roads in the state.

    “I must commend members of the state legislature for doing a thorough job in the passage of the 2017 Delta Appropriation bill.

    “We are committed to transforming the state for the betterment of our people.

    “It is also our hope that finances coming from various sector would improve this year so that we will be able to meet our obligation to the people of the state.

    “We will continue to do our best in bringing good governance to our people. We will give priority attention to the construction and reconstruction of roads in the state to open up our rural areas,” Okowa said.

    The governor, however, expressed optimism that the state lawmakers would equally give prompt attention to other executive bills before the House.

    He said the state government was poised to empower the people of the state through job creation and urged youths in the state to be patient and peaceful.

    Okowa said his administration would continue to do its best to impact on the lives of the people of the state, despite the realities of the current economic recession in the country.

    He further disclosed that the state government was committed to developing the rural areas of the state, especially the riverine communities to enhance the living condition of the people.

    Okowa said: “As a government, we are committed to developing the riverine areas, because the more we have been able to do that, the more we make the areas economic viable for the dwellers.

    “So, I want to urge the youths in the riverine areas to be patient and remain peaceful. We are working and will continue to work towards actualizing our our goal for a prosperous Delta state for all.”

    Earlier, the Speaker of the Delta House of Assembly, Mr Monday Igbuya, had narrated the contributions of the lawmakers in the successful passage of the 2017 appropriation bill.

    He said the House worked tirelessly and collaboratively in the discharge of their legislative obligations.

    “When the bill was received in the House in November 2016, we took the first and second reading the same day, before sending it to the committees of the House for their considerations,” Igbuya said.

    The speaker, however, pledged the support and cooperation of members of the State House of Assembly in the task of building a prosperous state for all Deltans.

  • Kidnappers to face life imprisonment in Delta

    Kidnappers to face life imprisonment in Delta

    Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state, Friday in Asaba signed the Delta Anti-Kidnapping Bill into law, which provides life imprisonment for kidnappers.

    The governor also assented to three other bills as passed by Delta House of Assembly and presented by its Speaker, Mr Monday Igbuya.

    The other bills signed into law were the State Security Trust Fund Amendment Law; State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy Law, and State Economic Council Amendment Law, 2016.

    Okowa in his brief remarks said that the amended Anti-Kidnapping Law made provisions for the demolition of kidnappers’ houses and properties, acquired with proceeds from kidnapping.

    He thanked the speaker and members of the assembly for painstakingly delivering the bills in good time.