Deputy National Chairman, Conference of Speakers of States Houses of Assembly and Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, has said that the financial autonomy granted to the legislature comes with higher responsibility and expectations.
Rt Hon. Oborevwori said this while declaring open a 2-Day Staff Capacity Development Programme for Officers of Delta State House of Assemblyon grade level 12 and above, holding in Asaba, Delta State Capital. He also told the participants that as bureaucrats, they are the driving force of the Assembly service, adding that it is expected, their work ethics must be unassailable.
Flanked by some principal officers of the House, the Speaker, stated that the training could not have come at a better time as most functions hitherto performed by the Executive on behalf of the three Arms of Government have been entrusted on each arm of government to carry out, stressing that how far and how well the Assembly Service will discharge those functions rest squarely on the workers.
“In planning for this training, the leadership of the House was mindful of the overall objective of the program. It is to improve your efficiency and productivity in your job. And I have no doubt in the ability of the resource persons to excellently deliver the topics outlined on the program”, Oborevwori said.
Continuing the Speaker stated, “Let me seize this opportunity to congratulate all of you for the passage and assent of the Assembly Service Law. For the first time, the Assembly Service will now have five consolidated appointment positions for the staff. You have the Clerk of the House who is the head of the Assembly Service, three Deputy Clerks and the Secretary to the Commission. I believe the Assembly Service has been well positioned by His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, our dear Governor, to effectively discharge its responsibilities. So, you must be at your best and work as a team in your service delivery”.
He told the participants that they are the memory of the House of Assembly as legislators stints are transient, while their Services can endure uninterrupted for 35 years or 60 years of age.Institution Memory as Honorable Members will come and go but their service endures for 35 years in service or 60 years of age.
He urged them not to remain in the crowd, but elevate their inputs so that their competence and positive attitude to work will stand you out.
The Clerk of the House, Mrs Lyna Ocholor, said the training was unique in the history of Delta State house of Assembly and called on the participants to use the opportunity to develop themselves today’s better service delivery.
“What has brought us together in this hall has never happened since the second Assembly as I know it. Let give Mr Speaker and the entire leadership of the house a resounding round of applause. I want to assure the leadership of the house that we will give this program all the attention and seriousness it deserves. The impact of this program will definitely show in our personal effectiveness, orientation, productivity, attitude to work and service delivery”, the Clerk stated.
Mrs Ocholor stated that the ability to take initiative and carry out assignments with minimal supervision will lead to the desired results and outputs.
The lead resource person, Pastor Afolabi Adun, Managing Director, NCMD Training and Consulting Services, described the capacity development program as ‘apt’ and charged participants to avail themselves the opportunity provided by the leadership of the House for improved efficiency, assuring that the sessions would be impactful.
The two-day program is expected to address several issues geared towards enhancing service delivery in Delta State House of Assembly.