Members of the Anambra State House of Assembly on Wednesday commenced a three-days retreat at Best Western Plus Hotel, Nza Street, Independent Layout, Enugu State.
Angel Network News (ANN) reports that the three days retreat will see the legislative members taken through lectures centered on ‘Oversight as a tool for good governance’, ‘An overview of the committee system’ ‘The budget as an effective mechanism for delivering the government’s agenda; Review of the appropriation processes’ among other lectures.
Anambra Assembly Speaker Rt. Hon. Somtochukwu Udeze in his opening remark, said the essence of the retreat is to improve the capacity of members to ensure quality representation while also serving as an avenue to appraise the function of the Assembly nearly a year since it came on board.
Rt. Udeze stated that the theme of the retreat “Developing Anambra State Through Effective Legislative Engineering” is apt in helping members as lawmakers ensure quality representation of their constituencies and in their oversight functions.
The Speaker appreciated Governor Chukwuma Soludo for ensuring harmonious relationship between the executive and the legislature.
“The retreat is to keep members abreast with their legislative duties and functions, appraising achievements since the 8th Assembly was inaugurated while also finding avenues to improve on and perform optimally.
“It is targeted at expending our scop as lawmakers in order for the 8th assembly to carry put its functions effectively.
“Periodically, we will keep assising our performance and the only way we can do that is through trainings’. Udeze revealed
In their seperate remarks, Anambra Assembly Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Chukwuma Okoye (Awka South two), Hon. Ejike Okechukwu, (Anaocha two) Hon. Noble Igwe (Ogbaru one) Hon. Tony Mmoubuike (Aguata two) Hon. Ebuka Igwe (Idemili South) and Hon. Anayo Okpalaeke (Aguata one) all agreed that the retreat and the knowledge acquired are imperative in helping them become better legislators and improve their performance.
According to the lawmakers “The retreat will help the thirty members of the state Assembly to be better equipped in discharging their responsibilities. We appreciate the Speaker of the 8th Assembly for championing the programme.
“It will also help members on personal appraisal of their representation while also helping the assembly map out agenda to focus on in the future and to also assist first time lawmakers in performing optimally.
“It will re-shape our mindset because our legislative agenda is channelled towards giving ndi Anambra a robust representation and we are hopeful that the agenda of the 8th assembly will be achieved.
” Trainings are very important and learning is a continuous process. Having this kind of retreat will make us prepared for the job ahead.
“The knowledge gained here will be impactful and their will be a radical change when we leave here because we will be highly improved in our capacities.
” Nobody was born a legislature and having won election, their is need to re-shape our thinking and ideologies towards making positive laws for ndi Anambra”. The lawmakers submitted.
Former Clerk of Anambra Assembly, Mr. Pius Udoh who moderated the event, also took participants on the review of the 8th 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 agenda were appraised to know the level of progress achieved and where to improve on.
A Professor of Political Science at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam campus, Prof. Ikenna Mike Alumuna, who lectured on “Legislative Oversight As A Tool For Good Governance” said the process of good governance, involves accountability, transparency, efficiency and rule of law.
The Varsity Don maintained that legislative oversight is part of the three basic functions the legislature including lawmaking and representation. He commended the 8th assembly on their achievement stating that the retreat will go a long way in assisting the lawmakers to leave up to expectation.
ANN gathered that the second day of the retreat will have Anambra lawmakers pay a courtesy visit to Enugu legislators.
