Speaker assures speedy passage of Delta’s health bill

• Opposition lawmakers debunk gratification claim • Okowa for Sapele college’s event

THE Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Monday Igbuya, has assured that priority would be given to the state’s Contributory Health Commission Bill to ensure its speedy passage.

Igbuya who spoke yesterday in Asaba when he played host to the management of West African College of Physicians led by the Faculty Chairman, Prof. Abel Onunu, commended Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for initiating the bill aimed at remedying perceived anomalies in healthcare services in the state, adding that the idea was in the right direction as it aimed to key into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) of the Federal Government.

He said the primary objective of the bill was to establish a scheme that would enable the less-privileged in the society have access to quality healthcare in the state, noting that the governor was replicating the benefits of the NIHS in the state.

Igbuya told the delegation that the House had concluded public hearing on the bill, adding that the exercise drew the attention of all stakeholders due to the importance the people attached to the proposed law.

The Speaker explained that the passage of the bill would boost the health needs of citizens, even as he disclosed that the free maternal healthcare for pregnant women and children under-five in the state is to be sustained by the state government.

Earlier, Onunu had said the delegation was on an accreditation visit to the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba to inspect facilities for the training of medical personnel.

He said the tour had afforded his team the opportunity to further partner with the state government for the training of its health personnel aimed at enhancing the health need of Deltans.

In a related development, two members of the legislature, Efe Ofobruku (Uvwie) and Godwin Abigor (Warri South 1) both of the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP) have vehemently denied a report in one of the line media which alleged that they contributed N5 million each to bribe the Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in the state capital to decide cases before it in their favour.

The two lawmkers, who spoke with reporters yesterday in Asaba, described the story as not only wicked and malicious, but a calculated attempt at bringing the House into disrepute.

They said that it was even more worrisome to read that Speaker Monday Igbuya had directed all 28 members of the Assembly to contribute the said amount to bribe the panel when about six members had no case at the tribunal.

Meanwhile, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa will on Saturday, September 19, grace the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of ICT laboratory and library for St. Malachy’s Grammar School, Sapele by the institution’s Old Boys Association.

According to the association’s National President, Lucky Siakpere, the legacy projects are part of the relentless efforts by the Old Boys to restore the past glory of their alma mater.

Siakpere, an engineer, explained that the governor’s acceptance to be Special Guest at the epoch-making event was a pointer to the boost education would receive under his watch as the state’s chief executive.

Head of National Office, West African Examination Council (WAEC), Charles Eguridu, is Guest of Honour for the occasion.