Read what Delta speaker said on how members treat aides as he lists assembly’s scorecard
- Speaker of the Delta state house of assembly, Rt. hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, said that the house members have no explanation to members of the public on how they treat their aides
- He said the aides belong to them and not members of the public nor journalists
- He said the house of assembly has made significant progress and will continue to contribute to the development of the state
Speaker of the Delta state house of assembly, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, on Thursday warned members of the public, including journalists to stop poke nosing into the manner house members treat their aides and personal employees, insisting that the aides belong to them and not members of the public.
The warning was handed down during a media chat with journalists at the state house of assembly complex to commemorate the second year of the state assembly and to intimate journalists on the journey so far and the successes recorded in the past legislative year.
The speaker, who spoke in response to a question posed by newly elected chairman of the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Mike Ikeogwu, following the alleged complaints from the legislative aides, said the aides are not aides of NUJ members but of the legislators, consequently the legislators have no explanation to journalists on how the aides are treated.
Speaker of the Delta state house of assembly, Sheriff Oborevwori, presenting the assembly's score card to journalists on Thursday
NAIJ.com reports that Oborevwori, who was newly sworn in following the impeachment of the former speaker, Monday Igbuya, also told journalists that the impeachment of the former speaker was done as a result of need for change.
He added that in every organization and legislature, change is always done, hence the change in the Delta legislature but the house remains one despite the impeachment of the former speaker, who was conspicuously absent at the briefing.
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The speaker, who was appearing before journalists for the first time after taking over the office from Igbuya, debunked claims that the state house of assembly is a rubber stamp of the state executive council.
He said the house cannot and has never been a rubber stamp or an appendage of the state executive council, noting that the Delta state house of assembly is the most vibrant among the 36 state houses of assembly in Nigeria.
A cross section of journalists at the media briefing in Asaba on Thursday
While listing the successes recorded in the last legislative year, Oborevwori said the house received a total of 34 bills out of which 10 were executive while 24 were private member bills. He listed those that have been assented to by the state governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, and those yet to be assented and others in committee stages.
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He told journalists that despite the harsh economic situation in the country which has affected service delivery, the house members are committed to providing effective representation to the people of the state, even as he promised that the house members will not disappoint the constituents.
Meanwhile, Nigerians have responded to the absence of President Buhari over the past few weeks. Watch their response on this NAIJ.com video