Legislative Agenda: As Delta Assembly, Again Sets The Pace

“DELTA No Dey Carry Last”; this is a local slang that has held sway over the years in the oil-rich Delta State, South-South Nige­ria. The slang which started within the commercial nerve centre of the State, Warri, with initial, “Warri No Dey Carry Last, has long metamorphosed into the entire State.

And, to some large extent this is true as the State prides its glory in several sectors cutting across sports, entertainment, oil and gas, politics, the aca­demia, among others.

In the legislative business, the State, without re­sort to hyperbole, is rated one of the most vibrant state legislatures across the 36 states of the federa­tion. This is not just a self-acclaimed glory as the evidence, no doubting the facts, speaks volume.

Just recently, precisely Sunday, June 9, this year, the State legislature added another feat to its glory as the State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori unveiled the State’s legislative agenda. The unveiling of the legislative agenda was part of the week-long activities marking the first anniversary of the 8th Assembly of the State.

With the forgoing, it is evident that Delta is one of the few States in the country that currently has an existing legislative agenda. Other states by current record that have an existing legislative agenda are Ekiti and Lagos.

This feat, in the words of a famous legislative consultant in the country, Mr. John Mutu has again, placed Delta in the comity of States Houses of As­sembly in the country as a topnotch state legislature.

While lauding the State legislature for taking the lead in legislative activities in the country, Mutu, who is the Managing Director, African Parliamentary Resource Center (APRC) noted that aside Ekiti and Lagos, Delta is the only state in the federation that has come up with its legislative agenda,a feat he noted the State has maintained over the years.

Mutu who said this recently at a retreat prepara­tory to the State legislative agenda in Asaba, the State capital, particularly, enjoined the State lawmakers to sustain the tempo just as he urged them to continue to work in tandem with the vision of the State Gov­ernor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori.

The APRC boss who was the lead facilitator at the retreat, said that the State legislature had, over the years maintained its standard as one of the most vibrant Houses of Assembly in the country.

While saying that the previous Assemblies in the State legislature had over the years, proven their onus as topnotch legislators, particularly, and, in relation to legislative policies, the 8th Assembly, according to Mutu, has again, maintained the feat as the first House of Assembly to roll out its legisla­tive agenda.

Urging the State to sustain the tempo, the con­sultant said, “Delta State is indeed brazing the trail because, out of the 36 states in the country, Delta State House of Assembly ranks top in terms of leg­islative policies.

“While other states are still struggling with in­duction and post inauguration as well as logistics challenges, Delta has gone far ahead talking about legislative agenda.

“As we speak today, it is on record that only Delta, Ekiti and Lagos that currently have legislative agenda. This is no mean feat.

“In legislative business, legislative agenda is important because, it talks about the vision, mission and position of the House towards ensuring the delivery of the dividends of democracy as well as supporting the vision and mission of the State government.

“With the legislative agenda, the 8th Assembly now has a roadmap for the delivery of its campaign promises to the people” Mutu said.

How It Began:

The journey which began barely six months ago at a post legislative retreat in Asaba, the State capital, saw the constitution of a Nine-Man adhoc committee for the draft­ing of the Assembly’s legislative agenda

The committee which was constituted by the Speaker of the State Assembly, Rt Hon Emomotimi Guwor, on Tuesday, January 30, this year, had the majority leader of the State legislature and member representing Aniocha North State Constituency, Hon Emeka Nwaobi as chairman.

The committee which had the member representing Bomadi State constituency, Hon Oboro Preyor as vice chair­man, also, had the member representing Isoko South 11, Hon. Ferguson Onwo as member.

Other members of the committee include; Hon. Augus­tine Uroye, Hon. Charles Emetulu, Hon. Bridget Anyafulu and Hon. Matthew Omonade while Mr. Pina Obianugba would serve as secretary of the Committee

The committee according to the Speaker is to collabo­rate with the consultant and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) African Parliamentary Resource Center (APRC), Mr. John Mutual in delivering the assignment just as the committee was given two weeks to turn in its reports.

Speaking in an interview with journalists shortly after the unveiling of the legislative agenda by the State Gover­nor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, the Speaker of the State Assembly, Rt. Hon Emomotimi Guwor, said the document is to guide the House in its legislative duties in the remaining three years of its tenure.

Guwor noted that the document, which was adopted in the first session of the House, was tailored in the direc­tion of the MORE agenda of the Rt. Hon. Oborevwori’s administration.

According to the Speaker, the Legislative Agenda was first initiated by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori when he was the Presiding Officer of the 7th Assem­bly, adding that the 8th Assembly was happy and honoured to have him unveil the legislative Agenda.

The Speaker thanked the Governor, whom he described as the 30th member of the House, for his support for the State Assembly, which made it pos­sible for the House to record huge successes in the first session of the 8th Assembly, just as he noted that there had always been a symbiotic relation­ship between the legislative and executive arms of government in Delta State even as he expressed optimism of its sustenance.

Rt. Hon Guwor appreciated his colleagues for their dedication to duty in the past one year and urged them to continue to place the interest of their constituencies and the state above personal gains so that the Legislature, in collaboration with the Executive, would readily make the desired impact on the lives of Deltans through efficient legislations, oversights and representation.

Also, the Speaker at a thanksgiving service held at the Region 34 of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Unity Modern Parish, Asaba, said the Assembly was thanking God for His infinite mercy over all the members of the State House of Assembly and for the one year anniversary of the 8th Assembly which was inaugurated June 13, 2023.

Rt Hon Guwor stated that the 8th Assembly was unique because it has one of its own and former Presiding Officer of the House as Governor, saying, “Governor Oborevwori understands perfectly the workings of the State House of Assembly hence we have enjoyed robust partnership with the Executive.

“My colleagues respect the leadership of the House and there has been lots of cooperation among members and I thank them for their support and partnership.”

The Speaker commended Deltans for voting the best out of the state to represent them in the 8th Assembly, adding that, “we received 18 bills both Executive and Private member bills out of which nine has been passed and three assented to already.”

He lauded Deltans for the confidence reposed in the House, assuring that they would not let them down.

On his part, the Chairman, Planning Committee for the 1st anniversary, Hon (Engr) Emeka Nwaobi, said the various activities for the first anniversary of 8th Assembly, including a press briefing and a novelty match between members of the House and those in the Executive arm, were huge success.

Nwaobi thanked the Speaker for his leadership qualities and all who made the events thick.