. The Hon. Members Met on Thursday, 29th July, 2021, at the state’s legislative complex Awka
. Will Continue Their Deliberation on these and other Outstanding Issues on Tues, 3rd August, 2021
The bill on Legislative Autonomy had today, Thursday, 29th July, 2021 scaled through the third reading in the Anambra state House of Assembly.
Introducing the bill, the Majority Leader, Hon. G Nnamdi Okafor representing Awka South 1 Constituency moved a motion for the House to consider the report of the House Service Committee on the bill for a law to provide for financial autonomy of the Anambra State House of Assembly and other related matters. The motion was seconded by Honorable Uzoma Ele, representing Onitsha South 1 Constituency.
The Chairman of the House Service Committee Honorable Uzoma Ele began his presentation by disclosing the importance of legislative autonomy to the House. He informed them that the effort to pass the bill into law was in line with the desire of the Federal Government to grant legislative autonomy to all the houses of assemble across all the states of the federation, The Hon. member also revealed that the bill has gone through first and second readings and asked the House to proceed with necessary amendments that will move the bill to the next level.
After some long drawn exchanges, sometimes very tensed but still fraternal, the House amended a number of clauses and called on the Majority Leader, Hon. G Nnamdi Okafor to move the motion that Anambra State funds Management ‘Financial Autonomy’ bill 2021 be read for the third reading and be passed by the Honorable House. The motion was supported and seconded by Honorable Lawrence Chukwuweike Ezeudo representing Dunukofia constituency. The bill was subsequently read for the third time by the Assembly Clerk. The House also agreed that the process of transforming the bill into law will commence on the 16th of August, 2021.
The majority leader subsequently pleaded with the house to consider a second bill bothering on judicial autonomy. He explained that the bill, ‘Anambra State Judiciary Funds Management Financial Autonomy Bill 2021, has gone through its first reading and asked for it to be read for the second time. On that note, he moved the motion for a bill to provide for the management of funds accruing to Anambra State Judiciary from the consolidated revenue fund of the state to ensure accountability, transparency, effective and efficient utilization of funds and for other connected matters, be read for the second time.
Honorable Patrick Udeoba, representing Anambra West Constituency seconded the motion for a second reading of the bill.
Honorable G Nnamdi Okafor, representing Awka South 1 constituency, stressed the important it is for the bill to be passed. He also urged the other members of the House to study the bill very well so as to make meaningful contribution when the House reconvenes on Tuesday next week.
Honorable Lawrence Ezeudo, representing Dunukofia Constituency supported the motion. He expressed how happy he was to be part of the assembly that would see to it that financial autonomy of the judiciary is passed into law. He also emphasized the importance of financial autonomy of the judiciary. According to him, “passing this bill into law will transform the judiciary as a whole.”
Honorable Emeka Aforka representing Orumba North Constituency in his on contribution supported the motion. For him, the need to pass the bill into law cannot be overemphasized. He further stated that giving the bill their legislative approval would guarantee the Judiciary independence and when that happened the judicial system of the state and of the country at large will be more effective.
The bill to provide for the management of funds accruing to Anambra State Judiciary from the consolidated revenue fund of the State to ensure accountability, transparency, effective and efficient utilization of funds and for other connected matters was supported by the majority of the House to pass through second reading.
The bill was later referred to the House Committee on Judiciary. Honorable Douglas Egbuna Nwachukwu, who is the chairman of the committee, was urged to look into the bill and prepare a report for the House. The need to expedite the process was communicated to the members of the committee as the House would soon be going on holidays.
The House was adjourned to reconvene on Tuesday the 3rd day of August when these pressing issues and other outstanding matters would be hammered out by the House.
