By Brenda Chidinma Imo-Eze
A two day workshop on Ebonyi State Legislative Oversight
Orientation for Members of Ebonyi State House of Assembly and House Committee Clerks has opened and concluded at Nike Lake Resort Enugu.
Declaring the workshop open, the Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly Rt Hon Chief Moses Ije Odunwa said the workshop would equip and strengthen the competence and Knowledge of the lawmakers in handling legislative matters especially in their oversight functions.
Chief Odunwa maintained that the training organized by United States Agency for International Development ( USAID) State 2 State is necessary as a framework for legislative business in which optimal performance is being provided.
The State Chief lawmaker who was delighted with the Agency for Identifying with the Ebonyi State legislators on the issue of improving the quality of lawmaking. urged the Honourable Members to pay attention to the lectures so as to enhance their potentials for legislative excellence .
The Speaker however used the forum to
expressed concern on educating the electorates on the role of legislature which is lawmaking and not execution of projects.
In his welcome remarks,. the Team Leader of USAID State 2 State, Dr Sam Onyia said the purpose and objective of USAID State 2 State was to increase accountability, transparency and effectiveness in targeted States and Local Government Areas in Nigeria for a period of five years and Ebonyi was the only State selected in the South East region.
Dr Onyia harped on Key reform gaps requiring legislative intervention which include Internally Generated Revenue Expansion Strategy, Automation of Budget and Financial Reporting, Procurement Law, Audit Law and Basic Education.
Presenting a paper titled Ways to enhance coordination between the Committee Clerks and House Committees in the State legislative process and lawmaking Mrs Patricia Anansi highlighted on the ways Committee Clerks can work harmoniously with House Committees for effectiveness and efficiency of legislative processes.
The Clerk who was represented by Ebonyi State House of Assembly Head of Planning and Research Mr Egede Sampson opined that Committees of the House are subdivision of the legislative and is normally headed by a Chairman and it’s secreteriates is equally headed by committee clerk.
Also, the State 2 State Local Government Area Manager Mrs Victoria Eze discussed the use of CCD to improve citizen participation, budgeting and legislative oversight for basic education, primary healthcare and WASH
Delivering a paper titled Overview of legislative functions, Mr Ahmed Mohammed said the oversight duties of the legislature is a critical governance function aimed at checkmating excesses, incompetence and activities of Ministries, Departments and Agencies as well as other government bodies to ensure positive results
At the closing ceremony, the Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly,Rt Hon Chief Moses lje Odunwa commended USAID for the aptness and choice of topics which according to him, will help the Ebonyi lawmakers improve in their processes of lawmaking.
The Speaker represented Deputy Speaker, Comrade Chinedu Onah, commended the Ebonyi state Governor His Excellency Rt Hon .Chief Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru for providing enabling environment for Ebonyi lawmakers to attend the training and equally extolled USAID for their rich endowments.
In a remark on behalf of the participants,the Chief Whip of Ebonyi State House of Assembly and Chairman House Committee on Information Rt Hon Chief Nkemka Okoro Onumah said they were better equipped than ever before as they all learnt new inputs in the process of lawmaking.
He then called on his fellow lawmakers to put into practice what they have learnt.