The Seventh Anambra State House of Assembly was inaugurated on June 12, 2019, exactly one ago, following a proclamation by Governor Willie Obiano. At the first sitting of the House, the thirty law makers conducted an election for their leaders and Right Honourable Uche Okafor, a consummate Political Scientist, was unanimously elected the Speaker.

In his inaugural speech, Right Honorable Uche Okafor said, quote, “The Anambra State House of Assembly will continue to offer the best legislative service to Ndi Anambra and the future generations of the State shall look upon the Seventh Assembly as a true Assembly of the people`s representatives who did their best in the service of our dear State”. End of quote.

With full determination to impact positively on the lives of the citizenry, the Seventh State Assembly members have demonstrated in just one year, their burning desire to make impressive marks in the development of the State. To this end, the main tripod functions of the legislature, which are: Law Making, Representation and Oversight have been actively discharged by the lawmakers within their one year of legislative engineering.

For the records, the present Seventh State Assembly, has been able to enact quality laws and passed numerous people-oriented resolutions emanating from motions sponsored by the members. Some of the bills passed by the present legislature include; the Anambra State Information and Communication Technology Bill; Anambra State Appropriation Bill 2020; Chukwuemaka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital Establishment Bill and the Anambra State Agency for Erosion, Watershed and Climate Change Bill.

Others are; the Anambra State Clear Drainage, Forest Preservation Agency Establishment Bill; Public Finance Bill; Anambra State Leisure Parks and Street Beautification Agency Bill; COVID-19 and other Dangerous Infectious Disease Prevention and Eradication Bills; the Anambra State Revised 2020 Appropriation Bill as well as the Anambra State Public Procurement Amendment Bill.

On resolutions, the present Assembly has recorded over seventy people-oriented Resolutions that touch all sectors of the State economy. This is a testimony to the cordial working relationship between the Legislative and the Executive Arms of government, which has facilitated the overall development of the State.

The Seventh Assembly has undoubtedly rendered complimentary support and services for the good governance of the State. For instance, the legislature had, on October 18, 2019, during its plenary, set up a Seven-Man Committee to investigate the causes of the fire incident involving a petrol tanker at Onitsha on October 15, 2019. The committee did a solid collaborative work with the State Government`s Committee on the same matter and made useful recommendations which have helped in reducing the spate of such accident in the state.

Again, in the wake of the coronavirus Pandemic, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Uche Okafor, on behalf of the state lawmakers, addressed a World Press Conference at the State Legislative Complex, Awka to register the bold commitment of the State lawmakers in fighting the deadly disease. The House even held an emergency plenary on April 16, 2020 during which it passed the COVID-19 Bill aimed at containing and eradicating the virus in the State.

The Speaker also set up a ten-man committee headed by the Deputy Speaker, Dr. Paschal Agbodike, in a bid to ensure that the disease was given the deserved fight in the State. The efforts made by individual lawmakers to cushion the effects of COVID-19 pandemic in their various constituencies through provision of foodstuffs and other materials for their constituents is quite commendable.

The present lawmakers, having practically demonstrated their love for the State by showing genuine commitment to duty and determination to contribute to the development of the State, most expediently need the collective prayer of Ndi Anambra for the sustenance of the peace and love they need to continue to work well. If they could accomplish so much in just one year, greater achievements are guaranteed in the remaining three years of their tenure.

Let Ndi Anambra join the legislators in appreciating God for granting them the grace and enablement to discharge their legislative functions creditably within their first year in office. To God be the glory.

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