By Fidel Njamanze
The Delta State House of Assembly Speaker, Rt. Honourable Monday Igbuya has provided an insight into why there is a robust and pleasant relationship between the legislature and executive in the state.
The speaker in an interactive session with key local government functionaries in Delta State said “the bitterness that has pervaded the passing of state appropriation bills and other bills as experienced in some states has been clearly absent in Delta State” adding that “since the creation of Delta State, the legislature and executive have continued to enjoy a cordial relationship which has translated to the rapid development of the state.”
Igbuya who harped on the need to maintain the status quo stressed on the three broad duties of the legislature, which include law making, representation and oversight.
He identified the constitution, character of council chairmen and councilors, the level of socio-economic and political stability in the local government, the disposition of the governor, paucity of funds and outright refusal of council chairmen to disclose the financial strength of the council as sources of conflict in the local government.
“With the dwindling fortune of our economic main stay in the area of revenue, particularly the sharp and ridiculous drop in the price of crude oil, we don’t need a soothsayer to tell us that these are perilous times and there is no better time to develop, maintain and improve upon the cordial relations that has existed and has continued to exist between the legislature and the executive in Delta State”
He urged those in the executive arm to always take into cognizance the yearnings and aspirations of the people.
“There should be direct interactions between the Legislature and Executive arms of government, even as each arm operates strictly within its constitutional provisions/ boundaries. Sufficient information, consultation and effective communication should exist between the Legislature and the Executive Arms of Government, particularly in the area of government finances and spending, so as to guide against unsettling perceptions and wrong analysis of government programs, especially in the areas of legislative oversight” he advised.
“The Delta State House of Assembly in this short space of time has successfully passed the Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency Law, 2015, Delta State Technical and Vocational Education Board Law, 2015 and Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Law, 2015 while the Delta State Appropriation (Amendment) Bill, 2015 and the Delta State Contributory Health Commission Bill, 2015 are waiting for assent” he added.
