Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Mr. Sherriff Oborevwori, last Tuesday, directed that legislative activities be suspended to enable all members of the House to accompany him to Asaba Airport to receive his pastor, Bishop David Oyedepo of the Living Faith Church. Members of the House told SaharaReporters that the Speaker made it mandatory for all the 29 members to accompany him to Asaba to welcome the preacher, who was in town for a one-day church program.
After receiving the preacher on Tuesday, the legislators were again made to wait on the pastor for two hours at the airport, as he expected the arrival of his private jet to fly him out of the Delta State capital.
“Legislative activities in the House were grounded for two days, as we were asked to accompany Mr. Speaker to the Asaba airport to welcome his pastor, who was in Asaba for a one-day program,” a lawmaker disclosed.
The lawmaker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added that after the legislators received Oyedepoon Tuesday, they were again made to wait for two hours at the airport the next day while expecting the preacher’s private jet to fly him out of Asaba on Wednesday.
It was after Oyedepo’s departure that the legislators had time for their duties.
“After he (pastor) left, we had a very brief session of the hearing of the executive bill sent to the House by the State government,” he said. The bill in question is a version of the
Lagos State Hotel Occupancy and Restaurant Consumption Law and sent by the governor, Mr. Ifeanyi Okowa, to the House for speedy passage into law.
Mr. Okowa’s request was contained in a letter dated 12 May and addressed to the Speaker of the House. The governor’s letter was titled “A Bill To Provide For A Law To Impose And Collect Through Electronic Fiscal Device Or Electronic Cash Register Consumption Tax On Goods And Services Bought and Consumed In Hotels, Restaurants, Departmental Stores And Entertainment Centres Within The Territory Of Delta State”.
A member of the House told SaharaReporters that the governor wants the bill passed very quickly and has already induced ranking members of the House to ensure it is done.
“The governor wants us to pass the bill into law quickly. He has already induced some of the ranking lawmakers in the House, with a view to getting the bill passed very quickly. In line with his desire, the bill was promptly debated on the floor of the House on Wednesday. The Speaker immediately set up a committee for the bill to be heard and passed within seven days despite the fact that we have other pressing bills like the anti-grazing bill, consumer protection bill and environmental management bill, which will be of benefit to our people,” said the lawmaker.
