Okowa signs DSIEC, 2 other bills into law

Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta on Tuesday in Asaba signed three bills into law, including the Delta State Independent National Electoral Commission (DSIEC) Bill (2017).

The others bills which the governor accented to were the Local Government Amendment Bill (2017) and the Administration of Criminal Justice Bill (2016).

Okowa signed the bills in the presence of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Sheriff Oborevwori and other principal officers while commending them for their dedication to duty.

The governor said that it was auspicious to accent to the bill now so as to strengthen the commission.

He said that the law would facilitate the reconstitution of the membership of the commission before the tenure of the Local Government councils expired in October.

“I believe that with this action, members of the commission will be appointed to assume office for the smooth conduct of the local government election.

Okowa said that the laws would ensure good governance and respect for the rule of law as well as ensure progress in the state.

The governor gave the assurance that his administration would continue to support local government councils in the state to offset their salary arrears.

He, however, attributed the inability of some local governments to pay salaries to over bloated staff strength in the councils and the primary schools.

Okowa called on the council workers’ unions to support the efforts of his administration to rid the councils of ghost workers through the capturing of the staff biometrics.

“We will continue to support the local government councils to pay salaries because their revenue is very low which makes it difficult for them to shoulder their responsibilities,” he said.

He noted that some local government councils did not owe their workers’ salaries because their wage bill was low.

Earlier, Oborovweri said that the bills passed through the rigorous process of different house committees before their passage.

He noted that Delta was among the very few states that had enacted the administration of criminal justice law.