DTHA Approves Autonomy for LGA’s in Nigeria, Rejects Separation of the Office of Attorney General
ASABA/Nigeria: As the State Houses of Assembly in the country joins the National Assembly in 5th Alteration of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Delta State House of Assembly has passed the amendment seeking for autonomy for the local Government Administration in the country.
The Delta State House of Assembly which concluded deliberations on the review of the Fifth Alteration of the 1999 Constitution in compliance with Section 9 subsection 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as Altered, carried out review of 44 sections of the constitution as sent by the National Assembly, passing 43 of rejecting 1, which was on the separation of the office of the Attorney General and Minister or Commissioner of Justice.
The House at plenary presided over by the Speaker, Sheriff Oborevwori voted in favour of forty three out of the forty four amendments transmitted to it by the National Assembly.
It could be recalled that the Upper and Lower Chambers of the National Assembly, had considered sixty eight amendments in the Fifth Alteration Bill, adopted forty four of them, which were transmitted to the thirty six States’ Houses of Assembly for legislative actions as required by law.
Setting in motion the legislative fireworks at Wednesday’s plenary of the Seventh Delta State House of Assembly, the Speaker Sheriff Oborevwori, announced some adjustments in the lawmaking procedures of the House due to the unique nature of the legislative assignment.
The Speaker said unlike voice voting of ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ by members for in support or against motions on the floor of the House during sitting, that of the alteration bill deliberation would be by raising up of hands for head count.
He also explained that aside voting For or Against any of the amendments, there would be a third category of abstaining from voting on a particular amendment if considered not to support or go against it.
At the end of the exercise which lasted for over two hours, forty three of the alterations were approved, while members abstained from one.
Other approved Alterations include, approval for Independent Candidate in the nation’s electoral process, making Basic Education in the country fundamental right of the citizens, and time frame for the President and Governor to submit names of nominated Ministers and Commissioners after oath of office.
Also approved were amendments that specified period for the President or governors to present the year fiscal budget to the National or State Assembly, separating the Accountant General Office from that of the Accountant General of the federation, alteration on right to food and food security in Nigeria, alteration to obey legislative summons, another making presiding officers of the National Assembly members of the security council of the federation and alteration for boundary adjustment of the federal capital territory, Abuja amongst others.
Alteration number 53 seeking to separate the offices of the Attorney General of the federation or states and Minister or Commissioner for Justices was not approved by the House as members abstained in voting for or against the amendment.
At the end of the deliberations, the Speaker, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori thanked the lawmakers for their diligence and commitment in the consideration of the 44 amendments transmitted to the House by the National Assembly in which the House approved 43 and abstained on one.
He said the House had complied with the relevant legislation which empowers States Assembly to make impacts in the Alteration of the Constitution.
Oborevwori stated that the Delta Assembly has successfully done so and members are proud to be part of history.
The Speaker commended the presence of the Technical Assistant, Conference of States Houses of Assembly in Nigeria, Mr John Mutu, and Director, Legislative Matters, National Assembly, Ibrahim Usman for visiting to witness deliberations of the House on the fifth alteration bill.
