…Passes Two Bills, Adopts One Report
By John Oghojafor
The Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori has assured public primary teachers in the state of the legislature support in their quest for autonomy and viability. In the same vein, he dissuaded allegations that the state government had turned deaf ears to their plight, stressing that the government would soon set out modalities to address their issues.
The Speaker gave the assurance, Wednesday, while addressing members of the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) during a nationwide mega rally they led to the gates of the State House of Assembly Complex, Asaba.
Rt. Hon. Oborevwori who broke security protocol by throwing the gates of the State Assembly Complex open to the rally, said no good government turns deaf ears to the issues confronting its people, adding that the Senator Ifeanyi Okowa-led government is aware of the plights of the people and would address them especially when they are within his jurisdiction.
Earlier, while presenting their issues, State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Comrade Jonathan Jemirieyigbe, called on the state legislature to ensure that the payment of primary school teachers salaries be taken over by the state governments in order to prevent the education sub sector from imminent collapse.
He observed that primary school teachers were being owed salaries for months in a number of states with Delta State not excluded, adding that it does not only affects the survival of teachers, but portends great danger for the future of under-privileged children in the country.
Comrade Jemirieyigbe commended the Speaker for his humility and stated that the NUT is not totally against Local Government autonomy, but the Union is concerned about the likelihood of scrapping the State Joint Local Government Account which would mean taking primary education back to the dark pre-1994 era.
According to him, the Local Governments neither have the capacity nor the political will to fund and manage primary schools in the country, stressing that any attempt as such is tantamount to consigning primary education to the abyss of total collapse.
Meanwhile, the Delta State House of Assembly on Wednesday, July 5, 2017, adopted reports on a bill for the establishment of Delta State Sickle Cell Centre and passed two bills, Delta State Public Occupational Safety Bill, 2017 and Delta State Manufacturing and Use of Deep Canoes Regulatory Bill, 2017 for first reading.
While Hon. Angela Nwaka seconded the report by the Majority Leader, Hon Tim Owhefere, motions for the two bills were seconded by Honourables Anthony Elekeokwuri and Okagbare Uviejitobor.
Presenting the report, Chairman of the ad hoc committee, Hon Alphonsus Ojo said the committee in order to present a bill that would meet the aspirations of both Deltans and non- Deltans who are victims of the ravaging Sickle Cell Disease, should expand the spectrum of coverage by overhauling the entire bill to be in line with present best practice in health management in areas of control, prevention and management of sickle cell.
Hon Ojo said in achieving the goals, the committee undertook a thorough consultation with relevant stakeholders including professional bodies, within and outside the state, working visit to major sickle Cell Centres and establishments, collations of memoranda from relevant group, NGOs and Ministry of Health, Delta State.
The committee, however proposed, after a careful scrutiny of the relevant materials, that certain amendments be made as contained in annexure 1, indicating deletions and insertions. The bill was slated for committee of the house and third reading on Tuesday 12, July, 2017.
