By Omos Oyinbode
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, Monday, blasted state governors who are slow in setting down for government business and plan programmes for the wellbeing of their people.
The Speaker was speaking in Asaba, Delta State, when he paid a courtesy visit to the Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, prior to commissioning a project executed by member representing Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, Hon. Onyemaechi Mrakpor.
Dogara, who was impressed over what he saw in Delta Government House, described the governor as a man who knew what he wanted for his people, noting that while some governors were busy contemplating on what to do about governance, Okowa “had hit the ground running”.
He said “I am quite impressed with the quality of personalities you have as Commissioners,” and thanked the Governor for his support during the race for the Speakership position.
Senator Okowa, who was flanked by members of his cabinet at the government exco chambers, called for synergy between the National Assembly and the Presidency to check insurgency.
Governor Okowa, who decried the magnitude of damage caused in the country as a result of insurgency, stated that President Muhamadu Buhari required the support of all Nigerians, especially, the National Assembly to bring the terrorists down.
“I believe that the backbone of Mr. President is the National Assembly, I appeal for collaboration between the National Assembly and the Presidency without tampering with independence of the Assembly,” he said, adding, “we, in Delta are praying that God will give the National Assembly and President Buhari the wisdom to handle the issues of insurgency in the nation.”
He said “we regret the death of people as a result of the insurgency, when we collectively talk with one mind, pray together, we will overcome this insurgency, we require divine intervention at this point in time.”
Senator Okowa used the occasion to challenge the National Assembly to speedily pass the Petroleum Industry Bill and the National Health Insurance Scheme Bill because of the importance of such bills to the development of Nigeria.
“I want to thank you for bringing the PIB bill to fore, it is my prayer that we can speedily pass the bill in both houses and it gets a quick assent from the President because, non-passage of this bill has set the country backward, I pray that it is passed early in the life of this Assembly,” the Governor stated adding that the passage of the NHIS bill was very important as it will affect the generality of Nigerians.
According to him, the NHIS bill desires speedy attention because the NHIS act of 2004 was not all inclusive, decrying a situation where the number of Nigerians covered by Health insurance is still below 20 per cent.
“If we truly want to touch the lives of the poor, it is to touch their health and education, once we get it right, you have truly touched them,” he said.
While congratulating Rt. Hon. Dogara for his successful emergence as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Governor expressed confidence in the ability of the Speaker to lead a vibrant and robust Assembly.
