8th June, 2015
Jethro Ibileke/Benin
Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state, Southern Nigeria, has charged the lawmakers of the 6th Edo State House of Assembly to ensure delivery on their electoral promises in order to win the confidence of members of their constituency.
Oshiomhole gave the charge on Monday in his office at Government House, Benin City, when he received members of the State House of Assembly, led by the new Speaker, Victor Edoror.
Addressing the Speaker and other members of the Legislature, Oshiomhole said: “during the electioneering campaigns, we went round with all of you to different locations across the state. We made promises, we made commitments about what we will do. We all have great insight into the challenges confronting our people. Our people have trusted us on the basis of our past performance but also they believe that we will deliver on the promises that we have made to them.
“You are coming into government at a very challenging moment when revenue accruing to Edo State from the federation account is today less than half, that is about 45 percent of what is in the federal budget and the situation is unlikely to change immediately.
“The only immediate hope that I have like other Nigerians is that with President Muhammadu Buhari as the President of Nigeria bringing to bear his well known disposition to discipline and ensuring that people perform and the willingness to fight corruption in the oil sector, one is hopeful that his leadership would in effect mean that money leaking in the system will now be blocked and be available for distribution at the federation account level.”
He noted that: “we have little or no control over the prices of oil but we can have control on what we do with the proceeds from oil. In Edo State we have leaned heavily on the House over the years for the necessary legislative backing for all the executive initiative particularly in the area of taxation, other revenue and Land Use Act, consumption tax, sanitation and every other area. The House has been a true partner in a sheer commitment to rebuilding a state that will again become a reference point in Nigeria.
“Mr. Speaker Sir, I am very happy and proud of the fact that as we stand today, Edo State is about one of the 10 states throughout the 36 states of the federation that is paying salaries up-to-date and we have paid even the one of May even before the end of May. We have to do what we do because government must be seen to respect the right of people who are in its employment and we have had to forgo many other things in order to make this happen.”
Oshiomhole noted that despite the financial challenges facing the country, the contractors in the state are still on ground working in the 3 senatorial areas as Edo State Government is doing everything possible to meet its financial obligation to them.
While congratulating the newly elected Speaker and other principal officers of the House, Oshiomhole said that he will continue to work with the legislature in order to foster the existing cordial relationship between the Legislature and the Executive.
Responding on behalf of other members of the 6th Assembly, the newly elected Speaker, Victor Edoror, said they were at the governor’s office to inform him that the 6th Assembly of the state has been inaugurated, following the letter of proclamation he sent to the House.
“We have directed the Clerk of the House to inform you officially that the House is open for you to send in your letter of business of government,” he said.
Edoror emphasized that the newly inaugurated House of Assembly is a very vibrant team and is ready to collaborate with the Executive in taking the state to greater heights.