BY ANDREW IKEHI
The beauty of democracy globally is the adherence to the rule of law.
Instructively, under the principle of the rule of law, people are ruled by the law and not by individuals.
Under this system of government and governance, checks and balances via the instrumentalities of separation of powers are critical. This is essential as it ensures that power is spread between those who make the law; the legislature, those who enforce/implement the law; the executive and those who resolve disputes about the law; the judiciary.
Again, separation of power which promotes checks and balances under this system of government, allows the three arms of government; the Executive, the judiciary and the legislature to operate independently.
The separation of powers model, as it were, is not always to create an outright limited government, but to prevent the concentration of power by providing for checks and balances.
The various arms of government, no doubt, use various methods in enforcing checks and balances. The legislature for instance which is empowered to make laws, establish the government’s budget, confirm executive appointments, ratify treaties, investigate the executive branch, impeaching and removing from office members of the executive and judiciary, as well as redressing constituents’ grievances, is also, empowered to engage in routine legislative oversight.
This, by simple analogy is one of its tools in enforcing checks and balances.
The concept of legislative oversight is based on the notion that, while governance is necessary for democracy to prosper in an orderly fashion, the implementing agencies and the people who staff them must be accountable for their actions.
It is on the strength of this that the Delta State House of Assembly Committee on local government and Chieftaincy affairs recently embarked on an inspection tour on some of the completed and ongoing projects in the State embarked upon by the various local government councils in the State under its legislative oversight to ascertain level of commitment to quality service delivery in line with the MORE agenda mantra of the state government.
During the visit, the committee charged Chairmen of Councils in the state to execute landmark projects to justify the improve revenue allocation under the present dispensation.
The Hon Chukwudi Dafe led Committee gave the charge when the committee visited Ndokwa East, Bomadi and Patani Local Government headquarters in continuation of the Committee’s oversight visits across the 25 local government councils in the state.
Addressing authorities of the councils during the separate visits, Hon Dafe urged them to complement the genuine efforts of the state government in attracting development to all nook and crannies of the state.
Dafe who represents Ukwuani State Constituency in the House, said grassroots must feel the positive impacts of the Renewed Hope for More Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
The Lawmaker, accompanied by members of the Committee who included; Hon James Augoye, Oboro Preyor, Augustine Uroye, Emmanuel Sinebe, Ferguson Onwo, and Isaac Anwuzia, stressed the need for transparency, financial discipline and accountability in the councils.
He also admonished the authorities to always comply with public procurement laws in the award and execution of projects.
The Lawmaker noted that the committee is empowered by the Constitution, to carry out oversight functions to the Councils in order to promote accountability and good governance at the local government level.
Dafe explained that all financial documents gathered would be scrutinized and transmitted to the Governor through the Speaker at the end of the exercise.
The member representing Bomadi constituency, Hon Oboro Preyor and his counterpart for Patani, Hon Emmanuel Sinebe, urged the chairmen to do more for their people, given the improved revenue to the councils.
The state legislators emphasized that the oversight visit was not to witch-hunt but a measure to ensure that the socio-economic lives of citizens at the grassroots were enhanced.
Chairman of Ndokwa East, Hon Vincent Osilonya, expressed delight over the visit of the committee members, saying that the oversight remains a guide to help councils align with state and federal government policies.
Osilonya noted that difficult terrain had slowed development in the riverine areas in the local government, even as he disclosed that his administration, within one year and two months, had executed projects across all wards based on inputs from councillors.
Similarly, Chairman, Bomadi Local Government, Hon. Dangidi Andaye, said in one year and two months in office, his administration completed 14 projects, including a concrete road within the council, a court complex, a multi-purpose hall, a chapel, and electrification projects connecting communities to the national grid.
Hon Andaye disclosed that beyond infrastructure, his administration runs a welfare scheme, catering for 400 elderly people aged 70 and above, who are provided with monthly stipends.
He also revealed that 500 youths had been trained and empowered with relevant skills to improve their livelihoods.
On his part, the Chairman of Patani Local Government Area, Hon. Isaac Aguana, expressed appreciation to the Lawmakers for the visit, noting that it would enhance growth and development at the council level.
Aguana disclosed that his administration had embarked on key projects, including a police station, an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office, and a court complex, which are at various stages of completion.
In the area of education, the Council Boss said his administration enrolled all pupils and students in the locality for their certificate examinations and supplied desks and tables to schools across the local government.
He assured that the welfare of the people would continue to be a priority for his administration. The visits continue.
