Okowa Assents to Anti-kidnapping, Three Other Bills

• To set up economic council

Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, on Friday assented to four bills, including one for the setting up of a state Economic Planning Council, and the Delta State Anti-kidnapping (amendment) Bill 2016.

The Economic Planning Council is designed to ensure cohesion between state and local government councils in the speedy delivery of democratic dividends, while the bill on amended anti-kidnapping law 2016 sets the penalty for convicted kidnappers as life imprisonment instead of the death penalty prescribed by the amended law in the state.

The other bills also presented and signed into law by the governor are Delta State Security Trust Fund (Amendment Bill) 2016 and the Delta State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy (amendment) Bill 2016.

The respective bills were presented to the Governor for assent by the Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Hon Monday Igbuya, who was accompanied to the governor’s office by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Friday Osanebi, and other principal officers of the House.

Okowa, who took pains to explain the essence of the four bills, said that he was excited to have signed them into law and expressed confidence that the economic situation of the state and the country would improve in the next few months.

He assured the people of more infrastructural development, saying the passage of the Economic Planning Council bill would bring it in line with the Nigerian Constitution to ensure that the local government councils were carried along in the developmental planning in the state as well as avoid duplication of projects.

“In this particular law, local government Chairmen will be brought in as members of the Council and it will enable us to compare notes on economic plans between the local government councils and the state government, and ensure greater partnership in the delivery of economic dividends for our people,” the governor said.

On the anti-kidnapping law, Okowa said, “Kidnapping of persons for money is on the increase across the country and with the signing of the law, security agents are now empowered to ensure that those directly involved in kidnappings and their accomplices are sentenced and their property destroyed to serve as deterrent to others; the state government will not spare anybody, there will be no sentiment; there will be no friendship in ensuring that we live in peace for development to take place.”

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