Members of the Anambra State House of Assembly and its key staff have commenced a three-day retreat to keep members abreast with their legislative duties and functions while also appraising achievements since the eighth Assembly was inaugurated, charting course to improve on performance.
The retreat holding in Enugu had principal members of the house, former clerks of the State Assembly and other key staff in attendance .
In an opening remark, the Speaker of the Assembly, Right Honorable Somtochukwu Udeze, explained that the programme is to improve the capacity of members to ensure quality representation while also serving as an avenue to appraise the functions of the Assembly nearly a year since it came on board.
Right Honorable Udeze said that the theme of the retreat “Developing Anambra State Through Effective Legislative Engineering” was apt as it would help members as lawmakers ensure quality representation of their constituencies and in their oversight functions.
He appreciated Governor Chukwuma Soludo for ensuring harmonious relationship between the Executive and the legislature.
The Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Right Honorable Chukwuma Okoye noted that the retreat will help the thirty members of the state Assembly to be better equipped in discharging their responsibilities and commended the Speaker of the Assembly for championing the programme.
A former Clerk of the State Assembly, Mr. Pius Udoh who moderated the event, took participants on the review of the eighth Assembly Agenda, where issues bothering on legislative process, oversight function and public hearing, ethical and code of conduct of members, annual budget and host of other issues were appraised to know the level of progress achieved and where to improve on.
In a lecture titled on ‘oversight as a tool for good governance’ Professor Ikenna Alumona of Political Science, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, explained that oversight is one of the basic functions of the legislature to ensure good governance based on transparency, rule of law, efficiency and accountability.
Also speaking, Honorable Ejike Okechukwu, member representing Anaocha Two Constituency said that it would help members on personal appraisal of their representation while also helping the Assembly map out agenda to focus on in the future as well as assist first time lawmakers in performing efficiently.
In their remarks, the member representing Ogbaru Constituency One, Honorable Noble Igwe, the member representing Aguata Two Constituency, Honorable Tony Mmoubuike, and the member representing Idemili South Constituency, Honorable Ebuka Igwe, affirmed that the retreat and the knowledge garnered are imperative in helping them become better legislators and improve their performances.
During the three-day retreat members will taken through lectures centered on ‘An overview of the committee system’ ‘The budget as an effective mechanism for delivering the government’s agenda; Review of the appropriation processes’ ‘Human Capacity Development in Legislature’ among other lectures.
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