Our Laws Are People-Friendly – EDHA Speaker

Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, RT. Hon. Markus Onobun,KSG, says all the laws being churned out by members of the state house of assembly have human face and serving the best interest of the good people of the state.

Onobun made the disclosure when he played host to the members of Edo Media Executives.

The Speaker said the principles of separation of power and the existing cordial relationship between the executive and legislative arms of government in the state is aimed at promoting a culture of sustainable social-economic growth and development in the state.

He said the house was not unaware of the principles of separation of powers and would not under any guise betray the mandate given to them by the people of the state by becoming an appendages of the executive arm.

The Speaker disclosed that the present 7th assembly had passed 41 bills out of the 50 executive bills forwarded for consideration and passage and 36 of the bills had been assented to.

Citing some of the people-oriented bills passed, he explained that the bills were tailored to address the needs of the electorate following due diligence to ensure smooth implementation.

He further clarified that the house had been sitting at the newly renovated assembly complex at King’s Square and assured that the interest of Edo people would not be betrayed at any point in time for any reason.

According to him, “Even though we have very good working relationship with the executive, It is not to the extent to short-changed Edo people.

“Even if we are sitting in the same living room with the executive, we understand that the mandate that has been freely given to us by Edo people and such trust will not be betrayed under any circumstance.”

Rt. Hon. Onobun who remarked that the house was giving due diligence to all the bills, stated that the bill that one of the bills passed few recently had been under intensive examination for over one year to enable them make the best out of it in the interest of the electorate.

He however noted with dismay that activities of the House were underreported by the media and sued for the cooperation of the media executives for a wider publicity.

Earlier, chairman of Edo Media Executives, Mrs Abimbola Oyetunde, represented by the Vice Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Salihu appreciated the good work the House was doing by passing people-oriented bills especially the electricity bill aimed at ensuring the provision of steady power supply to people of Edo state.

Mrs Oyetunde then called for periodic media chats with the speaker to keep the people of the state abreast of the activities of the House.

In the same vein, Head of AIT/Ray Power Benin Station, Bisi Akpaida emphasized the need for weekly programmes to keep the electorate up to date with all the deliberations and activities at plenary.

Also speaking, a former NUJ chairman, Edo State Council, Sir Ralph Okhiria said he was impressed with the achievements of the 7th assembly and observed that without collaboration between the legislature and the executive arm of government, no meaningful development could take place in the State.

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