RIGHTS GROUP CHARGES NEW LEGISLATORS ON GOOD LAWS

A FEW days to the inauguration of the new session of the Delta State House of Assembly, a group, Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), has advised the legislators to make laws that will be of utmost benefit to a majority of the people.

In a statement issued in Asaba at the end of a two-day workshop in Asaba, the group noted what it described as the preparedness and progressive steps of the leadership of the Delta State House of Assembly in enacting people-centered laws that would guarantee good governance.

The statement, jointly signed by Programme/Policy Officer, ANEEJ, Mr. Innocent Edemhanria; Assistant Director Planning and Statistics, Mr. William Umukoro; Audit Department, Mr. Augustine Ofili; and Admin Department Miss Ogbedo Florence, said such Act included the Fiscal Responsibility law and law on statistics but agreed that there is need for the enactment of other laws such as Access to Information Law, Public Procurement Law and others necessary to promote good governance and enhance the revenue profile of the state.

They appealed to Delta State government to put machinery in motion for the enactment of relevant laws such as Public Procurement Law, Access to Information Law and others necessary to promote good governance and enhance the revenue profile of the state.

The activists advised the state government to improve on management of resources accruing to the state in the interest of citizens so as to promote sustainable development and reduced crime rate.

To the newly elected and re-elected members of Delta State House of Assembly, they counselled them to involve relevant stakeholders in government planning process so as to ensure that the people are carried along.

The statement added: 'The Delta State government should regularly engage the people through town hall meetings to ensure that the people's interests are taken care of and also engage in wild consultation with the people/ communities in budget formulation and implementation. The government should collaborate with credible civil society organisations and create the enabling environment for them to operate.'