Recently on this page, we published that indications were rife that the Delta State House of Assembly is set to pass the Delta State Security Corps Amendment Bill anytime soon.
The indication as anticipated then was hinged on the seriousness attached to the bill by the State lawmakers as it had sailed through all relevant legislative process.
The eventual passage of the bill may not hold anytime soon as anticipated as it has undergone “legislative reverse” wherein it has been recommitted to “fresh legislative process”.
Contrary to the expectations of Assembly watchers, the bill, Wednesday, July 9, this year, was listed for first reading on the floor of the State House of Assembly.
Lead Sponsor of the bill and member representing Aniocha South State Constituency, Hon. Isaac Anwuzia presented the bill during plenary presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor.
At the commencement of the day’s business during Wednesday’s plenary, Hon. Isaac Anwuzia, alongside 27 other Lawmakers sought the leave of the house to bring in a bill to repeal the Delta state community security corps agency law 2020 and to establish the Delta state community security corps agency law 2025 to enhance the effectiveness of the agency, community policing in Delta state and other related matters.
Hon. Anwuzia, member representing Aniocha South state constituency also moved a motion for the first Reading of the Delta State Community Security corps Agency bill 2025 and was supported by the member representing Ndokwa west, Hon. Charles Emetulu.
Curious about the development, Assembly Correspondents engaged the lead sponsor of the bill and member representing Aniocha South State Constituency, Hon Isaac Anwuzia for clarification.
Speaking in an interview with Assembly Correspondents, Hon. Anwuzia who is also Chairman House committee on Peace and Security, made clarifications on the reasons why he sought to repeal the existing law after previous attempt to amend the Delta state Community Security Corps Agency law 2020. The Lawmaker disclosed that after careful scrutiny of the bill by the joint committee on the earlier proposed amendment, it became necessary to enact a fresh law rather than amend the existing one.
He said, “We followed the procedure for the initial amendment bill; first reading, second Reading and public hearing as well as committee of the whole house wherein members made their contributions. In the course of doing that, we discovered that it was important to repeal the entire law owing to several amendments made”.
“That informed Mr Speaker to refer the bill back to the committee for further scrutiny. The committee, haven presented its report to the house, the speaker directed me as the lead sponsor, to re-present the bill to the house as a fresh bill” Anwuzia stated.
Meanwhile, the fresh bill, few days ago, precisely Wednesday, July 16, sailed through second reading on the floor of the House.
Leading debate on the bill on the floor of the House, Hon. Anwuzia noted that following the perceived gross amendments in the bill, it became necessary for the House to repeal the existing law, rather than the proposed amendment.
This was corroborated by the leader of the House and member representing Aniocha North State Constituency, Hon Emeka Nwaobi who sought the support of the House for the speedy passage of the bill.
The lawmakers unanimously supported the second reading of the bill just as it was slated for further legislative consideration at the committee of the whole billed for Tuesday, July 22.
Given the current development, it is hoped that the fresh bill may not be subjected to fresh public hearing as indications are rife that the outcome of the previous public hearing may subsist.
It would be recalled that previous bill (Although on an Amendment as being sought) was subjected to a public hearing where stakeholders in the State security matters added their inputs..
Hon. Emeka Nwaobi who presided over the public hearing on the bill, is the leader of the House and member representing Aniocha North State Constituency.
Given the import of the bill, particularly in taming the rising wave of criminality and crime commission in the State, the lawmakers, no doubting the fact are poised at ensuring that they leave no stone unturned by ensuring that the bill was not only given expeditious hearing, but that it must be subjected to thorough legislative process.
For instance, in the previous second reading of the bill, the lawmakers examined the merits of the bill and its urgency in the State where it was intelligently debated and adopted as a necessary bill in the State, particularly given the present security situation in the country, particularly, Delta. “Mr Speaker, this bill is indeed a critical one. It is apt and timely as it is coming at a time like this.
“I have the mandate of my constituents to support the passage of this bill. This is so because, with the passage of this all important bill, our people can now sleep with their eyes closed.
“Mr. Speaker, do you know that some of our constituents, particularly those of them who have been victims of kidnapping, in their private prayers wish that some of us-lawmakers are kidnapped so that we have a taste of what they go through in the hands of kidnappers?
“Of course, you won’t blame them because, to them, we bother less about their plights in the hands of kidnappers.
“More worrisome is the fact that our people can no longer access their farms as a result of the increasing rates of kidnapping, rapes and killings of our people in their farms. “The resultant effect of this is the growing shortage of foods in our various communities and markets.
“The regular security personnel are trying but there is certainly a limit that they can operate. Come to think of it, in some of our communities, there is certainly zero presence of those regular security personnel. Therefore, there is a need, an urgent need for us to give legal backing to Community Policing in our dear state.
Therefore, I enjoin you, my dear colleagues to give adequate support to this bill-The Delta State Community Security Corps Agency (Amendment) bill and ensure its speedy passage”
Above quotes as captured inter alia, was the submission of Hon. Marilyn Okowa-Daramola, member representing Ika North-East State Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly during a recent debate on a bill for a law to amend the Delta State Community Security Corps Agency Law 2020.
Hon. Okowa-Daramola was certainly not alone in this. At Tuesday, April 8, 2025 plenary presided over by the Speaker of the State Assembly, Rt. Hon Emomotimi Guwor, the State lawmakers during the second reading of the bill, expressed their worries on the rising spate of insecurity in the State and the need for the amendment of the State’s Community Security Corps Agency law.
The Member Representing Aniocha South state Constituency in the House, Hon. Isaac Anwuzia, who is the Chairman, Assembly Committee on Peace and Security, is the lead sponsor of the bill, which seeks to give required legal backing to the activities and operations of local vigilantes in the State and thus; improve on their efficiency.
Leading debates on the merits of the bill, Hon Anwuzia, said the Bill which has 27 other lawmakers as co-sponsors, is aimed at strengthening and enhancing the Agency’s effectiveness in combating the worrisome and challenging insecurity in the state.
Anwuzia explained that the amendment bill also seeks to promote accountability in community policing in the State, stressing that the proposed law would help expand the functions of the security outfit, and enhance efficiency and effective collaborations with relevant stakeholders, including the various communities.
The Lawmaker maintained that security was fundamental requirement in any society aspiring to give the best to its citizens as well as promote investment and development, emphasizing that security should be everybody’s business as the absence of it would not only create chaos in any society but retard economic and societal growth. He said judging by the high rate of insecurity reported across the country, there was an urgent need for all hands to be on deck to stem the trend in Delta State.
Hon Anwuzia noted that the bill, when passed and signed into law, would ensure adequate remuneration for all duly recruited Corp members with the least Corps member’s salary commensurate to the remuneration of Salary Grade level 5 in the State Civil Service.
Hon Anwuzia stated that the proposed law will include chairmen of all the 25 local government areas of the State as members of the Corps.
“This proposed law would go a long way in curbing the rising profile of criminal activities in the State, particularly kidnapping, herders menace, armed robbery among other heinous crimes.
“I therefore urge all my colleagues for the speedy passage of the bill as security is everybody’s responsibility and a priority for development”, Anwuzia added.
Speaking in favour of the bill, some of the lawmakers who included the Majority Leader, Emeka Nwaobi, Deputy Speaker, Arthur Akpowowo, Deputy Majority Leader, Festus Okoh, Hon. Marilyn Okowa-Daramola (Ika North-East), Oboro Preyor (Bomadi) Charles Emetulu (Ndokwa West), Pereotu Oloye (Burutu 2), Bridget Anyafulu,(Oshimili South), Spencer Ohwofa (Ughelli North 2), Perkins Umukoro (Sapele) and Mathew Omonade (Ughelli North 1), among others, described the proposed law as apt, saying that when passed and signed into law would help to strengthen security architecture in Delta State.
Meanwhile, as part of the bill, it is proposed that recruitment of Community Security Corps would be by nominations from reputable stakeholders who include; Honourable Members of the State House of Assembly for their respective constituencies, traditional rulers, local government council chairmen, religious leaders and, community leaders.
