The Deputy Speaker, DTHA Rt. Ochor C. Ochor In Group Picture With Members of Course 44 of the Nigeria Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS
ASABA/Nigeria: Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Sherriff Oborevwori has called for a constitutional review to amend the 1999 constitution to reflect fiscal Federalism granting powers to the State for the creation of Local Governments within their territories.
The Speaker made the call at an interactive session with participants of the senior executives of course 44, 2022, of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies who are on tour to the State.
Rt Hon Oborevwori was represented at the event held at the State Assembly Complex in Asaba by the Deputy Speaker, Ochor Christopher Ochor.
Speaking on the theme “Strengthening local governance in Nigeria; Challenges, options and opportunities, the Speaker said at the dawn of democracy in 1999 the Assembly passed into law the Delta State Local Government Law, meant to provide for the establishment, structure, composition, finance and functions of the local government councils in the State.
Rt Hon Oborevwori stated that the law was repealed and re- enacted in 2004 and further repealed and re-enacted in 2013, noting that the development was as a result of the need to making the local government councils in the state more effective in service delivery.
He emphasized that the most fundamental rational for creating Local Governments anywhere in the world is for the development of its locality directly, while contributing indirectly to the development of the nation.
Hon Oborevwouri said constitutional limitation, paucity of funds, burden of primary education and health, huge recurrent expenditure, as well as stifled revenue generating capacity amongst others have bedeviled the Strengthening of local governments.
The Speaker then called for increased allocation to local governments, increment in revenue generating capacity at local level and primary school teachers be treated as first line charge in the Federation account.
Rt Hon Oborevwori commended the team for creating opportunity for the interactive session, saying that Delta State is on top in delivering of dividends of democracy to the people.
The leader of the delegation and Director of studies, National Institute of Management Studies, Prof. DJ Para Mallam, said the team was impressed at the infrastructural development in the state stating that Delta has been in the fore in terms of rapid development in the Federation.
She said the meeting had afforded the group the privilege to learn on ways to strengthen local governments in the country.
The Clerk of the Delta Assembly, Mrs Lyna Ocholor, Deputy Clerk, Otto Aghoghovia, Senior Directors and the Chief of Staff to the Speaker Dr Ebenezer Okorodudu as well as other top management of the State Assembly, were present during the interactive meeting.
