Governor Okowa seeks executive/legislative cooperation

Okowa stated this in a keynote address, yesterday, at the 2021 second quarter meeting of Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures in Nigeria at Asaba.

He said the executive and legislative arms in a presidential system of government, had critical roles to play in promoting good governance, ensuring political stability and fostering sustainable economic growth.

According to him, the first step to building sustainable partnership between the executive and legislative arms of government for effective service delivery is for both organs of government to work with the consciousness that separation of power is imperative for good governance.

He said, “Each must realise that the principle of checks and balances as constitutionally provided for, is to prevent abuse of power, which, if allowed to fester, will ultimately circumvent the rights and will of the governed.

“It is exigent that both see themselves as complementary partners working towards the same goal, which is the development of the State for the greater good of all.

“Trouble looms when the executive arrogates to itself the power to do as it wills or the legislature takes undue advantage of its oversight function to twist the arms of the executive for selfish ends.”

Chairman, Conference of Speakers, Rt. Hon. Abubakar Suleiman, said that Delta was one of the few states in Nigeria used as a reference point on the issue of autonomy for state legislatures and the judiciary.

Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly and Deputy Chairman of the Conference, Rt. Hon.  Sheriff Oborevwori said that in the comity of states, Delta enjoyed relative peace, in spite of insecurity pervading parts of the country “because we are a praying state.’’