By Chioma Adinkwu SRTV Correspondent
At Tuesday’s Plenary, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor read a letter from the Governor seeking the approval of the house to enable him present the proposed 2025 appropriation bill, which is in line with the provisions of section 121 (1) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
The Governor in another letter to the house, sought for a bill to amend the Delta State University of Science and Technology Ozoro establishment law 2021 to reflect a change of name to Southern Delta University, Ozoro.
The Governor in his letter explained that the reason for the change is to enable the institution float other faculties as conventional Universities as approved by the Governing council of the University and therefore urged the house to expedite action on the amendment bill.
The house on Tuesday also suspended the member representing Bomadi State constituency, Hon. Kenneth Oboro Preyor for 14 legislative days on ground of gross misconduct, following a motion moved by the majority leader Hon. Engr. Emeka Nwaobi and seconded by the member representing Ughelli North 1 constituency, Hon. Mathew Omonade.
The Speaker, Rt Hon. Emomotimi Guwor who presided over Tuesday’s Plenary announced the suspension of the Lawmaker on the floor of the house.
Rt. Hon. Guwor who directed the lawmaker to be escorted out of the legislative chambers, said an adhoc committee will be constituted to investigate the alleged misconduct of the Lawmaker.
At the commencement of plenary, a bill for a law to establish Delta State College of Health Technology Ovrode scaled first reading following a motion by the majority Leader Hon. Engr. Emeka Nwaobi and seconded by the member representing Udu State constituency, Hon. Collins Egbetamah.
Also at plenary Delta State House of Assembly passed a bill for a law to establish the Delta State Film and Video Censor’s Board Law, 2024.
The bill which came under intense scrutiny at the Committee of the whole house was read the third time and passed by the Lawmakers during plenary.
The house dissolved itself into the committee of the whole house Following a motion moved by the majority Leader, Hon. Engr. Emeka Nwaobi and seconded by the Minority Leader, Hon. Edafe Emakpor, to enable it scrutinized the Delta State Film and Video Censor’s Board Bill, 2024.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor alongside the Chairman House Committee on Arts, Culture and Tourism, Hon. Bernard Odior member representing Isoko North Constituency led Lawmakers to examine the provisions of the bill, clause by clause.
After thoroughly scrutinizing the executive bill by the Lawmakers, the Bill was read the third time and passed by the house in a unanimous voice vote.
Commending the Lawmakers for the discharge of their legislative duties, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor said that the Delta State Film and Video Censor’s Board Bill now passed by the house, will create an administrative framework to regulate the activities of film, cinematography and video works in the State, thereby creating job opportunities for young people as well as boost revenue for the state government.
Also at Plenary, the house received and adopted the recommendations of the report by the Chairman, House committee on Finance and appropriation, Hon. Marilyn Okowa-Daramola on the Delta State Fiscal Strategy Paper, FSP 2025-2027.
The committee after it’s findings and observation, recommended that the State government continue to sustain it’s public Finance management reforms in other to enhance it’s fiscal target on all revenue streams.
The committee amongst other things also recommended that government should endeavor to maintain
it’s medium term target of 60 to 40 ratio of Capital expenditure to recurrent expenditure as well as maintain a good debt stock.
In a unanimous voice vote, the house adopted the recommendations of the committee following a motion by the majority Leader, Hon. Emeka Nwaobi and seconded by the member representing Oshimili South, Hon Bridget Anyafulu.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor while commending the Chairman and members of the committee for a thorough job, stressed that the FSP 2025-2027 is a critical document which clearly shows the fiscal roadmap of the State, thereby serving as a guide to grow the economy of the State.
