The
Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has promised oil producing
areas a new lease of life. The Governor made this promise at the signing into Law,
the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC)
amendment Bill 2015.
He
noted that the Commission has been structured to impact positively on the lives
of our people in terms of infrastructural development, social services and
economic services.” Governor Okowa thanked God that the amendment Bill after a
rigorous process has been signed into law and it would tackle the challenges of
oil producing communities of the state.
Speaking
further, Governor Okowa said, “you have just witnessed the signing into law of
the DESOPADEC amendment bill 2015 to the original Law of 2006 establishing the
Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, this amendment bill was
forwarded to the House of Assembly in the course of this administration a few
weeks ago and we want to thank God that the House has completed the process of
passing into law the amendment bill of 2015 to the original DESOPADEC Law.”
“There
was a lot of interest when this Bill was presented to the House of Assembly and
as is customary of Deltans who are very bright and vibrant, a lot of people
showed interest and they had the opportunity to contribute their quota towards
a robust Commission,” he said, adding, “I want to thank God that the Delta
State House of Assembly took the bill to public hearing and Deltans made their
contributions to enrich the bill, there was a lot of engagement and
misconception that arose from the fact that some people did not even know what
was in the original law and did not know what was contained in the amendment
bill that was sent to the House, we thank God that at the end, the bill was in
the best interest of Delta State and the oil producing communities in
particular.”
He emphasized
that “through this Law, we are now establishing a Management team for the
DESOPADEC which will meet with the expectations for which the commission was
initially established, membership of the Board remains but now, we have brought
in a Management structure that can see us through to the future of the
Commission that we all desire, a Commission that will be structured to impact
positively on the lives of our people in terms of infrastructural development,
social services and economic services.”
The
Governor while commending members of the Delta State House of Assembly for
their proactive approach to law making, called on them to continue to stay
vibrant and ensure that they continue to collaborate with the executive arm
towards impacting more positively on the lives of Deltans”.
The
Governor disclosed that, “there is also another Bill in the House which is the
Delta State Contributory Health Insurance Bill and it is our hope that the
house is able to speedily pass that bill into law so that our people will benefit
from the intentions of the bill.”
Continuing,
he said, “It is our hope that despite the challenges of the moment, we will
stay focused in bringing prosperity to our people, not only in ensuring a
healthy people but in the economy of the family and the development of
different sectors of our state.”
Earlier,
Rt. Hon. Igbuya had said, “the Bill was properly looked into by members of the
House in spite of all the controversies surrounding the presentation of the Bill.
Honourable
Igbuya observed that the controversies made the members of the public to
understand that the bill has no harm, instead, it was actually to bring out the
good intentions behind the creation of the Commission.”
The
signing ceremony was witnessed by the Speaker of the Delta State House of
Assembly, Rt Hon. Monday Igbuya and the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Friday Osanebi,
other principal officers of the House, including the Secretary to the State
Government, Hon. Barrister Festus Ovie Agas.
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