Edo State Speaker Francis Okiye Highlights Achievements of the 7th Assembly

The Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Frank Okiye has highlighted the achievements of the House as the Assembly marked one year anniversary.

Briefing journalists at the Assembly complex, Speaker  Okiye said that the 7th Assembly members answered the call to serve the state when it was most needed.  �While others reneged, we stood for the state, particularly at a critical time when we need to approve the appointment of Chief Justice of Edo State. When the Bill for the Establishment of Edo State College of Agriculture, the Bill for A Law to provide for the Establishment of Edo State and Local Government Audit Commission and the Office of the Auditor-General, including the most valued 2020 Appropriation Law, Budget Estimates which has kept the development of the State going.�

He said that the House members sacrifice one month of their salary towards Covid-19 palliatives and donated items worth over N6 million to the State Government towards mitigating the impact of the Covid19 pandemic in the service of the state and other prompt response to the call of the executive and the judiciary.

Speaker Okiye gave breakdown of the achievements recorded which include welve (12) Bills received during the one year anniversary, 6 were assented to, 2 were passed into law and 4 are at different stages of consideration and four assented to.  

He enumerated the Bill which include, A Bill for a Law for operation of Lotteries, Lotto and On-line Sports Betting to Edo State and for other Matters Connected therewith; A Bill for a Law to make Provision for the Administration of Physical Planning, urban Development, Urban Renewal and Building Control in Edo State and for the Purpose Connected therewith; A Bill for a Law to provide for the Management of Funds of the Edo State House of Assembly and other Matters Connected therewith and A Bill for a Law to establish the Edo State Mortgage Agency and Regulate Mortgage Creation, Fore Closure and Enforcement of Mortgage in real property and Connected Purposes.

Other include A Law to provide for the Establishment of the Edo State Sports Commission; A Law to Establishment the Edo State College of Agriculture and Natural Resources; A Law to Repeal the Bendel State Auditor Law of 1982 and to provide for the Establishment of Edo State and Local Government Auditor Commission and the Office of the Auditor-General; A Law to amend the Edo State House of Assembly Service Commission Law, 2001; Year 2020 Appropriation Law; Year 2019 Reversed Appropriation Law; A Law for the Establishment of the School of Nursing, Igbinedion University Teaching Hospital and A Law to amend the Privatization and Commercialization law.

The speaker said that a total of 63 Resolutions were taken while 30 petitions were duly received from members of the public.  �Some have been resolved one way or the other and communicated to the appropriate authority for implementation while the rest have been referred to various relevant Standing Committees of the House for necessary action.�

Responding to question on whether the House was properly inaugurated on the 17th June, 2019 following the proclamation by the Executive Governor of Edo State, the speaker said that the ruling given by His Lordship, Hon. Justice Omotosho J. K., judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria clear the air that the House was legally constituted.

The speaker appreciated the overwhelming co-operation and moral supports the House of assembly enjoyed from all and sundry throughout the length and breadth of Edo State and beyond and promise to continue to consolidate of the giant strides of Governor Godwin Obaseki.