Samuelson Iwuoha– (State House Owerri)
The Imo State House Of Assembly has continued to show its patriotic commitment and desire to redefining parliamentary inputs, activities and showcasing quality legislative landmarks. This, it has done by organizing a 3-Day Retreat and Orientation Exercise in Uyo, Akwaibom State, for the Incoming and Returning House Members of the 10th Assembly, which would be inaugurated in June 2023.
The Retreat/Induction programme which had the theme ” Understanding The Context, Peculiarity, Practice And Procedure In The House, For Effective Delivery Of The Mandate” kicked off effectively on the 25th of May 2023.
The high powered programme which had known Authorities in Legislative practices as Resource Persons and Consultants , was planned to equip incoming and returning House Members with necessary tools/knowledge to drive enhanced and robust legislative activities.
In her welcome remarks, the Clerk/Head , Legislative Services of the Imo State House Of Assembly , Chinelo Adaora Emeghara Esq , while welcoming participants, explained that the programme was important and compulsory for all House Members-elect.
According to Mrs Chinelo Emeghara,
“The purpose of the exercise is to prepare the Members-elect for the task ahead. She said It would also serve to refresh the memories of the Returning Members who had not only participated in similar exercises, but had functioned as legislators for four years or more”.
The Clerk went further to add that “A legislator must have deep knowledge of the various ways in which a House Of Assembly functions. Its Rules and Standing Orders, the Lawmaking Processes and Procedures, Oversight Functions and other things expected of a legislator, and that was essentially what this induction programme would seek to address”.
Still in her welcome remarks, the Clerk said that ” participants would also be introduced to the basic steps involved in the opening of a “New House” so they would have an idea of what is expected of them on the day of inauguration. Finally the programme would try to expose members to the vital tools and skills needed to carry out their duties effectively”.
The Clerk/Head, Legislative Services, Imo State House of Assembly also used the opportunity to thank the Governor of Imo State for his magnanimity in facilitating the Retreat/Induction and ensuring that the members-elect had the best in terms of welfare and the Course Faculty for the program not minding the financial involvement.
In his goodwill message, the Speaker of Imo State House Of Assembly, Rt Honourable Barrister Anthony Emeka Nduka congratulated the participants for winning elections in their Constituencies and were now getting prepared for the 10th Assembly through the Induction programme that is aimed at building Legislative Capacity that would propel them to function optimally as lawmakers. He therefore appealed to them to cooperate with the Resource Persons and Consultants, as they are taken through the legislative rudiments, which would impact positively on the 3-R administration and the good people of Imo State.
In his opening remarks, the Governor of Imo State, His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma charged Members-elect to render true representation and services to their constituents, through making people oriented laws.
According to the People’s Governor,
“legislators should not promise what they cannot do.Your key mandates include, law making, oversight, appropriation and representation. Your being part of government is solely for the interest of your people, which you must defend and protect, not to serve yourself or the Governor. I therefore urge you to cultivate good synergy amongst yourself for the common good of Ndimo, in particular, and the society, in general”.
The keynote Address was delivered by a thorough bred proffesional and a former member of the House Of Representatives, Hon Dr Chris Asoluka, who brought his wealth of legislative experience to impact on the exercise. As one of the carefully chosen resource persons,he treated the topic : BUILDING EFFECTIVE EXECUTIVE/LEGISLATIVE PARTNERSHIP .
Dr Chris Asoluka explained that despite the trifurcation or separation of powers, that there is only one Government at a time. This is because just like one wing cannot make a bird fly, Government cannot function effectively on one arm. lt is in the interest of the Executive Arm that the other Two Arms of Government (Legislature and Judiciary) should be strong enough to ensure the GOVERNMENT stands , to discharge its functions, creditably. According to him, using Organizational theory to explain Government, he argued that a System that has three independent, yet interrelated and therefore Interdependent subsystems, the subsystems must exist in a symbiotic relationship, but not compromising the bounds of their interdependence. Conversely, if one system is unstable, defective or malfunctioning, then the whole system would be affected, thereby, remaining in unstable equilibrium. Therefore, if the Legislature makes laws, the Executive should execute the laws , while the Judiciary has the task of interpreting the laws. Therefore, this interdependency is what makes Government strong and stable, thereby facilitating good governance.
He went on further to say that, the Executive and Legislative Partnership comes into play when a Bill is passed by the Legislative Arm Of Government. This Bill does not become Law until the Executive, represented by His Excellency the Governor, gives Assent to it. Also, the Governor can initiate a law by sending an Executive Bill to the State Assembly, which lawmakers would attend to. It therefore means that a Bill does not come into force unless the Executive (in this case, Governor) gives Assent to it, as provided by the constitution. Meanwhile a bill cannot also be passed except it goes through the laid down processes in the House of Assembly.
Again, more is achieved, especially developmentally when there is Executive and Legislative Partnership in the Governance of the State. This is further achieved when channels of communication between the Executive and the Legislature are open. This way, political friction is reduced and there is peace in the polity.
In like manner, certain political appointments by the Executive can only sail through if the Legislative Arm gives approval, through confirmation, after screening, as provided by the constitution.
All these and more are the explanations , as contained in the paper, BUILDING EFFECTIVE EXECUTIVE/LEGISLATIVE PARTNERSHIP , presented by Hon Dr Chris Asoluka, to showcase the gains in building a Partnership between the Executive and Legislative Arms of Government.
Also, the following Authorities delivered papers at the Pre-inauguration Induction Programme For Members-elect :
- Barrister Ibrahim Usman , who is the Director Of Legislative Matters in the National Assembly, delivered the Paper entitled : POWERS, PRIVILEGES, IMMUNITIES AND LIMITATIONS OF THE LEGISLATURE..
- Dr Innocent Mebiri , also a Director in the National Assembly, delivered the Paper entitled : PRINCIPLES OF SEPARATION OF POWERS, AND DOCTRINE OF CHECKS AND BALANCES.
- His Excellency Ambassador Jerry Igbokwe PhD delivered paper entitled : THE COMMITTEE SYSTEM AND OVERSIGHT PROCESS IN THE LEGISLATURE .
AND ALSO, THE ROLE OF THE BUREAUCRACY AND LEGISLATIVE DUTIES.
- Mallam Saidu Mohammed Nasir , who is Head NABRO, delivered the Paper entitled : LAWS AND REGULATIONS GUIDING THE USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS AND LEGISLATIVE FUNDS (MANAGEMENT LAW).
They were also taught the APPROPRIATION PROCESS IN THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY - Dr John Mutu of African Parliamentary Resource Centre and Head of Faculty did a recap and over view of all topics taught and also delivered the Paper entitled : INTRODUCTION TO STANDING ORDERS OF THE HOUSE.
The Retreat/Induction Programme at Ibom-Icon Hotel And Golf Resort, Uyo, Akwaibom State was indeed action packed and has given the Members-elect heads up on what is expected of them as Honourable members of the House.
Returning House Members who were present in the Retreat/Induction Programme include :
- Rt Honourable Sir Amara Chyna Iwuanyanwu (Deputy Speaker).
- Hon Chief Kanayo Onyemaechi (Majority Leader).
- Hon Chigozie Nwaneri (Chief Whip).
- Hon Chief Eddy Obinna (Deputy Whip).
- Hon Chief Samuel Chidiebere Ogbunikpa (Deputy Majority Leader).
- Rt Honourable Barrister Kennedy Chidozie Ibeh (Nke Nke Enyi N’Achikota Igwe Enyi).
- Hon Chief Sam Otuibe.
- Hon Barrister Dominic Ezerioha.
- Honourable Chief Obinna Egu (PhD).
- Hon Chief Francis Uche Agbabige. Incoming House Members who were present in the Retreat/Induction Programme include :
- Hon Chief Ugochukwu Obodo.
- Hon Engr Sir Innocent Ikechukwu Ikpamezie.
- Hon Chief James Uba Esile.
- Hon Chief Barrister Sam Osuji.
- Hon Kelechi Opurum.
- Hon. Barrister Nze Sir Chisom Ojukwu (Oyinatumba).
- Hon. Chief Bernard Odoemenam.
- Hon. Chike Olemgbe.
- Hon. Agbasonu Henry Chinemerem.
- Hon. Azodo Vitalis Ndubuisi.
- Hon. Iheoha Johnleoba.
- Hon. Ikenna Ihezuo.
- Hon. Gilbert Chidozie Nwosu.
- Hon. Ozioma Worship Ebonine.
- Hon. Modestus Osakwe.
- Hon. Udeze Ernest Okey.
- Hon. Uzoma Osuoha.
It is also worthy to note that the entire Management staff of Imo State House of Assembly were present at this year’s Retreat/Induction at Uyo.
As Imo State House Of Assembly prepares for the inauguration of the 10th Assembly, it is obvious that with the quality of the induction exercise given to them, the next House would be Action-Packed , and ready to provide quality representation to their constituents and the good people of Imo State.
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