The Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori has stressed the need for sound and results-oriented legislature at the local government councils in the state.
Oborevwori made the call while declaring open a two-day capacity building workshop for elected councillors of Ika North East local government council, organized by the member representing Ika North East Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon Anthony Elekeokuri.
The Speaker his keynote address at the ceremony reminded the councillors that as lawmakers at the local government level, their actions and inactions have a direct and immediate impact on their constituents.
Oborevwori who described the Ika North East representative, Hon Anthony Elekeokuri as a focused, articulate, intelligent and highly resourceful lawmaker, commended him for sponsoring the training program to prepare the councillors for the job at hand.
For his part, Hon Anthony Elekeokuri said the legislature remains that arm of government charged with the responsibility of making laws that engenders the welfare and security of the people as enunciated in section 14, subsection 2b of the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The lawmaker who is the Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts, explained that he took the decision to sponsor the capacity building workshop to expand and depend on the knowledge and skills of the Ika North East councillors in lawmaking, representation and oversight functions, as human capital development in all areas of life is a solid ground for the development of the society.
“It is based on the above I opened up the conversation with the legislative staff of the Delta State House of Assembly to replicate what we have at National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies for the benefit of the legislative arm of Ika North East local government council.
“I enjoined you all to avail yourselves this unique opportunity to deepen your knowledge of legislative process and procedures, budgeting, rules, ethics and privileges amongst others,” Elekeokuri stated.
The lawmaker also stressed the need for a cordial relationship between the executive and legislative arms of the Council as according to him, it is the only way the people will benefit in terms of dividends of democracy.
The facilitator of the program, Mr Silvester Olorogun, while congratulating the participants for the privilege provided by the training program, urged them to give the workshop the seriousness it deserved with the expectation that it will add value to their legislative activities at the council.
“Overview of Legislative Practice and Procedure”, “Result Based Monitoring and Evaluation Framework “, Overview of Budget Management “, “Committee System in the Legislature“, and “Supremacy of the Constitution, “Legislative Ethics and Privileges” and Doctrine of Separation of Powers”, are issues being discussed at the workshop.
Others include “Motions and Amendments to Motions, Raising Point of Order, Ruling from the Chair, Adjournment Debate and Adjournment Motion” as well as “Laying of Papers and Circulation of Legislative Materials, Order Paper, Business of the Week, Calendar of Sitting, Preparation of Votes and Proceedings”.
A team of highly resource persons, including Mr D.S Olorogun, Dr Steven Okolo, Penn Oghenerhaboke, Barr Smart Edoge, Ebiton Ogboka and Mr Alex Joe, were drawn from the legislative and legal departments of the Delta State House of Assembly.
They all acknowledged the basics for sound legislature and encouraged the participants to return to their duty post better legislators.
The Leader of the legislative arm of Ika NorthEast, Rowland Okuokeyi expressed gratitude to Hon Anthony Elekeokori for organizing the capacity building workshop, saying that issues being discussed would enhance efficiency in the growth and development of Ika North East local government council.
The opening ceremony was witnessed by the member representing Isoko North Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon Jude Ogbimi and an aide to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on Investment, Mr Chris Memeh.
