The speaker of the Delta House of Assembly, Dennis Guwor, has said the assembly considered 16 bills within the last year of the eighth assembly.

Mr Guwor disclosed this while briefing journalists as part of the activities of the second anniversary of the 8th assembly in Asaba on Friday.

He said the House received 16 bills, including eight executive and eight private members’ bills.

Mr Guwor said, “Out of the 16 bills, seven of them have been passed by the House and six of them have been assented to by the state governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, while one is being prepared for his assent.

”The remaining eight are undergoing consideration by the House. However, nine bills that were received by the House in the first session scaled the third reading and passed, and were also assented to by the governor in the period under review.”

Mr Guwor noted that the bills passed and assented to by the governor included the State Child Rights (Amendment) Law, 2024; Amended Revised Appropriation Law, 2024; State College of Health Technology Ovrode Law, 2024; Southern Delta University, Ozoro (Establishment) Law; and the 2025 Appropriation Law.

Others are the 2024 Supplementary Appropriation Law, the State Polytechnic Burutu (Amendment) Law, 2024, the State Urban and Regional Planning Law, 2024, the State Structure for Signage and Advertisement Agency (Amendment) Law, 2024, and the State Film and Video Censor’s Board Law.

The bills also include the 2024 Registration and Regulation of Private Veterinary Clinics Law, the 2024 Special Offences Court (Amendment) Law, the 2024 Pet Control and Responsible Ownership Law, the 2024 Human Trafficking (Prohibition) Law, and the 2024 Electricity Power Sector Law.

Mr Guwor emphasised that the laws passed by the house aimed to promote good governance and ensure the rule of law, as well as improve the welfare and security of the people of the state.

The speaker also disclosed that the assembly received 72 motions, saying after robust debate, 68 were approved.

”The House also screened and confirmed nominees for appointment as commissioners, members of the State Executive Council, and chairmen/director-general/members of agencies, boards, and commissions.

”The House received a total of six petitions from constituents, which were thoroughly investigated and considered by the House Committee on Public Petitions.

”In order to strengthen the administration of the 25 local government councils in the state, the House also received nominees for screening for appointment as secretaries to the local government councils. The nominees were duly screened and confirmed according to extant laws,” he said.

Mr Guwor, while reiterating the commitment of the assembly to making laws towards the betterment of the state, noted that the primary purpose of government is to provide and guarantee peace, security, and welfare for the people.

He commiserated with some parts of the state that have experienced and are being inundated with security breaches and concerns.

“In response to this menace, the House has introduced a bill to amend the State Community Security Corps Agency Law. The bill has passed first and second readings and was recommitted to a Joint Committee of the House on Special Bills and Peace and Security for in-depth consideration.

“The gravamen of the bill is the recruitment of indigenes who are familiar with the terrain in each local government area to assist law enforcement agencies in providing intelligence and security in the state.

”Let us give peace a chance. Surely, peace is not weakness; it is strength guided by wisdom. Whether you are Ijaw, Itsekiri, or Urhobo, our unity remains our strength,” he stated.

(NAN)