Enugu Assembly gives scorecard, scores self high

Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Eugene Odoh, has announced that the lawmakers passed a total of four bills out of six received and resolved 17 motions and six resolutions during the second session of the fifth Assembly.

Giving a mid-term report during House sitting, Odoh listed the appropriation law as one of the bills, noting that it received speedy passage and ensured continuous progress in the development programmes and policies of the state.

Another bill passed is the 'Operation of Motorcycle Prohibition Law', which banned the use of motorcycles for public transport in the Enugu metropolis.

According to him, motions passed in the session were timely and in quick responses to the yearnings of the people such as those on incessant rape of elderly women in Opi in Nsukka Local Council and immediate reconstitution of the development area committees of the local council system.

Odoh stated that the session also recorded a landmark achievement with the adoption of the revised edition of the House Standing Orders as well as resolved to conduct her business in Igbo language.

The Speaker pointed out that it was a resolution of the House that authorised the state government to renew the N1 billion Term Facility from Fidelity Bank Plc under the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme.

'This resolution seeks to diversify and boost the economic base of Enugu State through creation of employment, food production at commercial quantity, provision of inputs for the industrial sector on sustainable basis and export promotion,' he said.

He noted that the various standing and ad-hoc committees of the House carried out their oversight functions by regular monitoring of activities of the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure that government programmes are implemented and administered efficiently.

The Speaker said the House received and dispensed considerably several petitions referred to it among the- Ibagwa Nike Land Crisis in Enugu East Local Council, enquiry into the poor performance of the state Universal Basic Education Board and others.

He stated that the House in November 2012 embarked on legislative study tour of Texas, USA, to improve and enhance members and staff legislative capacity-building.