Delta Assembly receives more Commissioner designates for Screening, Confirmation

*** House Screens, Confirms Engr. Henry Onwordi Idama as Director General, Delta State Water Sector Regulatory Commission

***Delta State Livestock Breeding, Rearing and Marketing Regulation Bill, 2021(Delta Anti-open grazing law) Scales First Reading

*** Delta State Highly Infectious Diseases Management Bill, 2020 Fails Second Reading.

Governor ifeanyi Okowa has forwarded a list of additional eight nominees for appointments as Commissioners and members of the Delta State Executive Council to the State House of Assembly.

The names of the nominees were contained in a letter to the House, read at Tuesday’s plenary by the Speaker, Rt Hon Sherrif Oborevwori.

The names as contained in the Governor’s letter to the House, include, Prof Patrick Muoboghare, Hon Chika Ossai, Rt Hon Basil Ganagana, Chief Emmanuel Amgbadugba, Dr Mordi Ononye, Hon Ovie Oghoore , Barrister (Mrs) Bridget Ayanfulu and Hon Solomon Golley.

Dr Okowa said his action was in line with the powers conferred on him by session 192, sub session 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

The governor said he will appreciate early consideration and confirmation of the nominees by the House.

The Speaker, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori subsequently directed the nominees to submit their curriculum vitae to reach the Clerk on or before Monday next week and appear for screening on Tuesday, July 20th 2021.

The House at plenary, screened and confirmed the appointment of Engr Henry Idama as the Director-General, Delta State Water Sector Regulatory Commission.

The motion for the confirmation of the appointment was moved by the Deputy Majority Leader, Hon Oboro Preyor, seconded by Hon Ferguson Onwo, Isoko South two and adopted.

The nominee had told the legislators that he had been in Acting capacity in the Commission, established to regulate the activities of water and sanitation providers in Delta State.

The House took first readings of three private members Bills.

They include Delta State Public Finance Management Bill, by Hon Anthony Elekeokwuri, Ika North East, Delta State Farmers Registration, Monitoring and Certifications Bill by Hon Austin Chikezie, Aniocha South and Delta State Livestock Breeding, Rearing and Marketing Regulation Bill by Hon Reuben Izeze, Ughelli South.

Meantime, the Delta State Highly Infectious Diseases Emergency, Prevention and Management bill failed to scale through second reading on the floor of the State House of Assembly, following the overwhelming votes against the bill by members.

The lead sponsor of the bill, Hon Emeke Nwaobi, Aniocha North, who led debate on the merits of the bill, had reminded his colleagues that all contentious diseases are big threats to life.

Recalling the Ebola and Corona virus incidents, Hon Nwaobi stated that the proposed law was to give the state governor the necessary legal backings on best ways to manage such situations anytime they occurred.

Hon Nwaobi and others who also spoke on the merits of the bill, including Anthony Elekeokwuri, Ferguson Onwo, Charles Emetulu, Ekpotuareyin Pullah, Austin Uroye, Peter Uviejitobor and Emomotimi Guwor, said public lives of the people must be regulated to avoid spread of infectious diseases.

The Lawmakers stated that a platform in which government can operate in case of outbreak of contentious diseases is being created, maintaining that enabling law was needed for effective control.

Leading debate against the bill was the Member Representing Ughelli South, Hon Reuben Izeze whose submissions were supported by the Deputy Speaker, Ochor Christopher Ochor, Deputy Majority Leader, Oboro Preyor, Chief Whip, Pat Ajudua, Deputy Chief Whip, Solomon Ighrakpata and Majority Whip, Festus Okoh.

They said the bill has no merits as its provisions were duplication of existing laws, maintaining that some of the clauses are against the fundamental rights of the people.