Delta Assembly Not Rubber Stamp – Delta Speaker

…Lists Achievements of the Assembly Since June 2019.

Delta State House of Assembly, DTHA has rebuffed public perception of the lawmaking house being an appendage and rubber stamp of the executive in the state.

This position was made at a media briefing to mark its first anniversary of the Seventh Assembly on Wednesday, June 10, 2020.

Speaker, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori who presided over the briefing and flanked by principal officers of the House, defended that the Legislature was only in synergy with the Executive to speed up development in the state.

Oborevwori who was also caught up in the question on his alleged interest in the 2023 Delta governorship race, also denied the allegation saying “it’s a rumour and fake news”.

Reacting to the Rubber Stamp toga on the House, the Speaker said, “that is not true. There must be synergy between the legislature and executive. The work of the legislature is lobby, we have a good working relationship”, noting that dialogue is essential to achieving development.

Listing achievements of the first session of the Seventh Assembly, Speaker Oborevwori harped that the House since June 10, 2019 till date, with the cooperation of the executive has been able to achieve and record giant strides as “members have been more resilient, purposeful, committed and always available for legislative responsibilities in plenary, Committees and oversight assignments”.

Delta Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori (center), Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Ochor Ochor (left) and Majority Leader, Hon. Tim Owhefere (right) during a Media Briefing to mark the First Anniversary of the Seventh Assembly

Continuing he said, “In the period under review, the House received a total of 14 bills, 10 were Executive bills while 4 were private Member bills, with 9 of the bills haven been passed and assented to and 5 other bills on hold”, adding that, “66 Motions were received and 66 Resolutions were adopted accordingly”.

Other feat recorded according to the Speaker include, training and capacity programmes/ building for Competence and Excellence of Members and Staff; timely consideration and processing of bills, motions and requests from the executive; physical transformation of the Assembly Complex and Legislators Quarters, Constructive engagement of the Executive in policy formulation and transformation of same into law where necessary and Robust mechanism for citizen engagement.

While thanking his distinguished colleagues for their unwavering support towards him and the leadership of the House, Oborevwori also commended the leadership and members of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) of the Assembly for the cordial working relationship with members of the House.

The Speaker extended the appreciation of the House to the State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa for his support to the Legislature and further thanked traditional rulers and the Press for their support in the past years.

Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori is the first lawmaker in Delta State to be reelected as Speaker for a second term and has been the Speaker of the House since May 11, 2017.