Members of the Delta State House of Assembly on Tuesday approved a fresh N25 billion loan for the State Executive headed by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
The new loan was approved by the House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, barely 49 days after similarly approving, for the Executive a controversial N150 billion bridging finance facility.
According to the Assembly, the new loan would be borrowed from First Continental Monument Bank (FCMB).
It was gathered that the loan approval was granted by the Legislature to enable the State Executive to invest in palm plantations.
Meanwhile, the Speaker who is also the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Delta State, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori has debunked the insinuation making the rounds that the State House of Assembly is a rubber stamp of the Executive arm.
The Speaker said this while addressing journalists during the activities marking the celebration of the 3rd year of the 7th Assembly in Asaba, the state capital.
He said, “As a House we are doing very well and we have respect for ourselves and there is cordial working relationship between the Legislative arm and that of the Executive arm. And working together with the executive arm does not mean the House is a rubber stamp of the Executive.
“The Delta State House of Assembly cannot be compared to any State House of Assembly in the country due to the fact that the Delta State lawmakers pass people oriented bills that have great impact on Deltans and every bill must follow due process of the bills passage like first reading, second reading, public hearing and third reading. “Our bills are standard bills that can meet any lawmaking standard in the country.
“We the lawmakers have continued to demonstrate strong will in scrutinizing request from the Executive arm of Government, ensuring passage of realistic Budgets, robust engagement with Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government, undertaking constituencies outreach, oversight government’s projects and programmes, and passage of people oriented bills into law for the development of the State.”
