Okowa assents to four bills, to set up economic council.

 

To ensure cohesion between state and local government councils in the speedy delivery of democratic dividends, Delta State governor Ifeanyi Okowa has assented to a Bill for the setting up of an economic planning council in the state.

Apart from the Delta State Economic Planning Council Bill 2016 which was presented to the governor for assent by the speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya yesterday in Asaba, three other Bills were also

presented and signed into Law by the governor.

They were Delta State Security Trust Fund (amendment Bill) 2016, Delta State Anti-kidnapping (amendment) Bill 2016 and the Delta State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy (amendment) Bill 2016.

Governor Okowa who said he was excited to have signed the Bills into law expressed confidence that the economic situation of the state and the country would improve in the next few months.

He assured Deltans of continuous infrastructural development and that the passage of the Economic Planning Council Bill was to bring it in line with the Nigerian Constitution to ensure that the local government council were carried along in the developmental planning in the state and also, avoid duplication of projects.

According to the governor, “In this particular law, local government chairmen will be brought in as members of the council and it will enable us to compare notes on economic plans between the local government councils and the state government, and ensure greater partnership in the delivery of economic dividends for our people.”

Okowa who took time to explain the importance of the four laws to the government and people of Delta State, disclosed that the Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy would be constituted in the next few weeks because of its importance in looking at issues concerning “persons who have been condemned and those who are held in the prisons.”