By Nkem Nwaeke
The Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Emomotimi Dennis Guwor, penultimate Thursday, 10th April 2025, presented seven bills to the State Governor, Rt Hon (Elder) Sheriff Oborevwori, for assent.
The development marked another significant milestone in the symbiotic relationship between the Executive and Legislative arms of government in promoting good governance in Delta State.
Accompanied by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Arthur Akpowowo; Majority Leader, Emeka Nwaobi; Majority Whip, Bernard Odior and the Clerk of the House, Aghoghophia Otto, to the Governor’s Office, Government House, Asaba, the Speaker who is always in his element as regards legislative proficiency, said the bills had gone through several stages of legislative fireworks and approvals before their presentation for assents in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as altered).
The signed bills were: Delta State Physical Planning and Urban Renewal Bill; Delta State Film and Video Censor’s Board Bill; Delta State Electricity Power Sector Bill; Registration and Regulation of Private Veterinary Clinics (Amendment) Bill; Child Rights (Amendment) Bill; Delta State Pets Control and Responsible Ownership Bill, and the Delta State College of Health Technology, Ovrode Bill.
The signing of these bills into law is expected to address various aspects of governance, including Infrastructure Development, Economic Growth and Social Services.
This further demonstrated the increasing commitment of the Guwor’s led 8th Delta State Assembly to support potential investments in road construction, power generation, and other critical infrastructure to enhance the state’s development.
The Assent on the bills also serves as another pat on the back of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s initiatives to stimulate economic diversification, improve security and investment climate, reduce poverty, as well as enhance provisions for education, healthcare, and other essential services.
In his remarks before presenting the proposed laws for signatory of the Governor to seal the legislative processing of the seven bills, the Speaker, Rt Hon Guwor, took time to give brief details of the legislative documents being presented.
The Speaker said that the Delta State Physical Planning and Urban Renewal Bill, 2024, repealed the extant Urban and Regional Planning Law, 2021 which provides for the Establishment and Functions of Local Planning and Development Authority in Part IV of the law being repealed.
He explained that the said Part IV, contravened the provisions of Section 7 and Fourth Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as Urban and regional planning is outside the scope of functions of Local Government Councils.
Guwor, who is the National Treasurer of the Conference of Speakers of State Houses of Assembly in Nigeria, disclosed that the bill was read for the Third time and Passed on 5th February 2025 after its scrutiny by a Committee of the whole House.
The Speaker stated that the Delta State Film and Video Censor’s Board Bill is to regulate activities of films, video works and cinematography in the State and to create job opportunities in the film industry.
According to him, the bill was read for the First time on 8 May 2024; Second Reading on 22 May 2024, and Third Reading and Passed on 12 November 2024.
Similarly, the Speaker said the Delta State Electricity Power Sector Bill, was enacted to repeal the existing Delta State Power Sector Law, 2022. He explained that the bill became expedient due to the Fifth Alteration of the 1999 Constitution that gave power to States to make laws for the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity within the States.
According to him, the proposed law is targeted to attract investors into the electricity market in the State, saying, “It will make power available to businesses in the State and boost our internally generated revenue.
“This Bill Your Excellency, will be a game changer in the State economy. Deltans are eagerly waiting for the take-off of the provisions of this Bill”, Guwor stated.
The Speaker pointed out that the Registration and Regulation of Private Veterinary Clinics bill is an amendment to the Regulation of Private Veterinary Clinics Law, 2006, aimed at strengthening the operations of Private Veterinary Clinics in the State via the Veterinary Establishments Registration and Regulation Committee, which will regulate, control and examine the manufacturing, preparation, storage, preservation, packaging, dispensing or marketing of articles relating to the Bill.
He said the proposed law has the capacity of increasing the internally generated revenue of the State.
For the Child Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Guwor said, “This Bill is an amendment to the Child Rights Law, 2008. It seeks to protect children against any forced or exploitative labour or to be employed to work in any capacity. The Bill also seeks to establish and maintain Adoption Service Department in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community and Social Development, to deal with adoption matters.
While highlighting the importance of the Delta State Pets Control and Responsible Ownership Bill, Rt Hon Guwor expressed optimism that the new law would enable the Department of Veterinary Services in the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources put in place control measures and ensure safety of humans by checking and preventing the outbreak of rabies and other zoonotic diseases associated with dogs and cats.
The Speaker noted with delight the accelerated legislative processing of the Delta State College of Health Technology Ovrode Bill and commended those who made it possible.
He said, “This Bill is in response to the No Objection on Systematic Tracking of Exchange in Procurement (STEP) from the World Bank to upgrade and renovate a School of Health Technology in a rural community within the State.
“This health Institute will be dedicated to the training of healthcare professionals that will provide services in the treatment of malaria, pneumonia, diarrhoea and other vaccine-preventable diseases, such as measles, pertussis, and meningitis. It will generally improve the human capital index in the State”, the Speaker noted.
The signing of these bills is anticipated to have a positive impact on Delta State, including, Job Creation, improved security, urban renewal and good governance.
The new laws are capable of engendering new opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship, driving economic growth and development, as well as having the potential to address security concerns and provide alternative livelihoods, especially the Electricity Power Sector law.
No doubt, the leadership of the 8th Delta State Assembly should particularly be commended for its steadfastness in promoting good governance in the state.
The enhanced collaboration between the State Assembly and the Executive demonstrates a commitment to good governance, characterized by Transparency (Openness in the legislative process and public engagement), Accountability by strengthening the mechanisms for oversight and Citizen Engagement thereby providing opportunities for citizens to participate in lawmaking processes.
The Speaker had emphasized this camaraderie when he acknowledged the exchange of heartfelt pleasantries between Members of the Executive and the Legislature present during the presentation of the seven bills for the Governor’s assent.
He said the development speaks volumes about the mutual respect and synergy between the two arms of government for the advancement of good governance in the State.
“Your Excellency, it is an ubiquitous fact that the twenty nine Honourable Members of the House are representatives of all Deltans across the twenty nine State Constituencies. Therefore, I have the mandate of the people of Delta State to convey the profound appreciation of Deltans to you for the massive infrastructure development across the State in less than two years of your administration.
“I dare to say that we are seeing the material evidence of the monies appropriated by the House. Moreover, we appreciate you more for the peace and security we enjoy in the State. Your mechanism for conflict resolution is commendable and truly defines you as a grassroots leader.
“Let me in particular, thank you for the recent Exco approval of N1 billion soft loans for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises at single-digit interest rates to stimulate economic growth at the micro level of the State’s economy. This initiative will impact positively on our constituents by way of access to capital for their businesses. This is a great relief for our constituents”, Guwor noted.
As Deltans continue to expect more from the MORE agenda of the Oborevwori administration in Delta State, the Rt Hon Guwor’s led State Assembly has resolved to support the Governor with the requisite legislative backing.
– Nwaeke is the Chief Press Secretary, CPS, to Rt Hon Emomotimi Dennis Guwor, Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly.
