Rt. Hon Emomotimi Dennis Guwor the Speaker of the Delta State Assembly, has given his assurance that the 8th Assembly will collaborate with institutions to enhance the legislative business of the House. During the opening ceremony of a training program organized by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) and the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), the Speaker conveyed this message.
The Speaker emphasized the significance of the induction workshop, stating that the knowledge gained from the training would enable members to quickly adapt when the House resumes plenary. He highlighted that the majority of the House’s members were new, making this training all the more crucial.
Rt Hon Guwor expressed confidence that the training’s impact would be evident in the legislative work of the members, as it aimed to deepen their understanding of legislative practices and procedures. He appreciated the partnership between the Delta State House of Assembly and KAS, stating that the Assembly prided itself as the most developed sub-national parliament in the country.
Furthermore, the Speaker requested that KAS provide additional training opportunities to the Assembly, recognizing the organization’s contribution to the success story of the Delta State Assembly through its capacity building programs.
The Speaker urged his colleagues to take the training seriously and actively contribute to the discussions during the sessions. The Resident Representative of KAS in Nigeria, Marija Peran, provided insight into KAS as a German Political Foundation and highlighted their commitment to promoting democracy, good governance, and the rule of law.
Peran commended the members for their electoral victories and successful inauguration. She emphasized KAS’s long-standing programs in Nigeria and expressed gratitude to the Speaker for the collaboration and trust extended to their organization.
The Resident Representative stressed the importance of State Houses of Assembly playing a decisive role in the governance of their states, and she stated that the training program would cover essential areas to achieve the set objectives.
Lawmakers, including the Deputy Speaker and several others, spoke positively about the training program in separate interviews, expressing confidence in its potential impact.
The two-day program covered a range of topics such as the Nigerian Constitution and the concept of separation of powers, legislative functions and processes, ethics and privileges, committees in the legislature, parliamentary protocol, budget processes, legislative code and ethics, engagement with civil society organizations, and legislative duties and rules of procedure.
