Delta State House of Assembly has taken a significant step towards strengthening democratic governance in the state with the launch of its Post-Legislative Scrutiny (PLS) Department.
The event marks a milestone in the Assembly’s commitment, in collaboration with Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), to improving legislative effectiveness and ensuring that laws made by the House serve the people of Delta State.
In his keynote address, Rt Hon Emomotimi Dennis Guwor, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, highlighted the importance of the PLS Department, stating that it would enhance legislative oversight, promote evidence-based lawmaking, and strengthen accountability in governance.
Represented by the Leader of the House, Hon Emeka Nwaobi, and flanked by Honourables Emeke Osamuta and Pereotu Oloye, the Speaker explained that the department is expected to systematically review existing laws, assess their impact, and recommend amendments to ensure they remain relevant and effective.
“The establishment of the PLS Department is a result of the Assembly’s partnership with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), which provided technical support and guidance. The initiative is part of the Assembly’s broader vision of institutional reform, aiming to build a transparent, accountable, and responsive legislature.
“It is worthy to note that Post-Legislative Scrutiny is a critical component of modern legislative practice. Lawmaking is only one aspect of our constitutional responsibility. Equally important is ensuring that those laws are effectively implemented, achieving their intended objectives, and responding to the evolving needs of our people,” the Speaker said.
Guwor, who is the Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures in Nigeria, stressed that the 8th Delta Assembly is determined to build a legislature that is transparent, accountable, responsive, and comparable with the best parliamentary institutions across the world.
“As representatives of the people, we must constantly ask ourselves: Are the laws we pass working? Are they delivering measurable benefits? Are they addressing the real challenges faced by our constituents? The Post-Legislative Scrutiny Department provides us with the institutional mechanism to answer these questions responsibly and objectively.
“I commend Members of the House, management, and staff who have worked tirelessly to bring this initiative to fruition. Institutional reforms succeed only when there is collective ownership, and I am proud of the commitment demonstrated by this House.
“To our development partner, the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, we express our sincere gratitude. Your technical expertise, guidance, and unwavering support have been instrumental. We look forward to sustaining this partnership as we operationalise and deepen the impact of the PLS Department in the Delta State Assembly,” Guwor stated.
The State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ekemejero Ohwovoriole, SAN, who also inaugurated a two-member PLS Desk Officers to work with the newly institutionalised PLS department in the State Assembly, expressed his support for the initiative, stating that the Ministry of Justice is committed to joining hands with the Assembly to ensure the success of the PLS Department.
Represented by the Director, Legal Drafting in the Ministry, Mrs Rita Ekpemina, the Attorney General highlighted the importance of checking the impact of legislation on citizens and getting feedback on the effectiveness of laws.
“Institutionalising the PLS unit is no doubt a laudable project, the basic objective of which is to strengthen accountability and effective governance through purposeful efforts at checking the impacts of legislation on citizens and getting necessary feedback on the effectiveness of our laws.
“This step is commendable as it affirms our commitment to ensuring that our laws are not only effective but also achieve the objectives for which they are enacted. I wish to reiterate commitment of the Delta State Ministry of Justice to join hands with stakeholders in this progressive stride as a key institutional partner,” Ohwovoriole assured.
Country Director of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, Adebowale Olorunmola, congratulated the Assembly and urged stakeholders to translate capacity into action, emphasising the importance of synergy and national leadership in advancing democratic reforms.
Stating that “post-legislative scrutiny is a powerful tool for strengthening governance and ensuring that laws deliver real value, Olorunmola urged the House to ensure the department’s success and impact on citizens’ lives.
“The real test of the department’s success will not be the knowledge and skills gained, but the impact felt by the citizens of Delta State. We must move from the ‘what’ and ‘how’ of PLS to ‘doing PLS’.
“I must emphasise a critical strategic partnership with the Delta State Ministry of Justice. Legislative scrutiny is most effective when it is collaborative and inclusive, not combative and exclusive. The Ministry of Justice holds the keys to executive implementation data. By working closely with them, this PLS department can ensure that legal bottlenecks are identified and corrected, ensuring that the ‘intent’ of the legislature matches the ‘reality’ of governance.
“I wish to extend my heartiest congratulations to Rt Hon Emomotimi Guwor, Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, on his well-deserved emergence as the Chair of the Conference of Speakers in Nigeria. Mr Speaker, this is more than a personal milestone; it is a platform for national transformation. With this new mantle comes a significant task. I urge you to use your influential office to ensure that PLS becomes institutionalised in the remaining 34 State Houses of Assembly across the federation.
“Nigeria needs a legislative culture where we don’t just ask, ‘Did we pass the law?’ but rather, ‘Is the law working for the person on the street?’” the WFD Country Director stated.
The Clerk of the Delta State House of Assembly, Otto Aghoghoophia, in his welcome address to the launch, emphasised that the occasion marks a significant milestone in the Assembly’s ongoing institutional strengthening.
He noted that the PLS Department is a critical component of modern legislative practice, enabling the House to assess the effectiveness of laws, identify unintended consequences, and recommend amendments where necessary.
“Post-Legislative Scrutiny is a critical component of modern legislative practice. It moves the legislature beyond the passage of bills to a more comprehensive review of how laws perform after passage and assent. It enables the House to assess whether the law is working as intended, identify unintended consequences, and recommend amendments where necessary. In doing so, it strengthens accountability, transparency, and evidence-based lawmaking,” Otto said.
According to him, creation of the PLS Department was made possible through the valued partnership and initiative of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, even as he appreciated the Foundation for its technical support, guidance, and commitment to achieving the critical milestone.
“As Clerk of the House, I assure WFD that the bureaucracy of this Assembly will provide the necessary administrative support to ensure that the Post-Legislative Scrutiny Department is fully operational and impactful. We are committed to embedding this reform within our institutional framework so that it becomes a sustainable pillar of our legislative architecture.
“Ultimately, the greatest beneficiaries of this initiative are the good people of Delta State. When laws are reviewed, refined, and strengthened through systematic scrutiny, governance improves, public resources are better utilised, and citizens’ trust in democratic institutions is reinforced,” Otto emphasised.
In their goodwill messages, representatives of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, Dr Chris Ngara, and a PLS Consultant, Mr Walter Adogu, commended the Delta Assembly’s leadership for what they described as a historic step toward enhancing legislative practice and institutional accountability.
The high point of the event was the formal inauguration of the Post-Legislative Scrutiny Department, headed by Emmanuel Nwabudike, alongside the unveiling of PLS Desk Officers in the Delta State Ministry of Justice, heralding a new era of systematic review, transparency, and effectiveness in the lawmaking process of Delta State.
