ASABA – The Delta State House of Assembly on Tuesday unanimously supported autonomy for the judicial arm of government, as it resumed debate on the Judiciary Financial Autonomy Bill.
The bill, sponsored by the executive arm of government, was presented for its first and second readings by the Majority Leader of the state House of Assembly, Mr Monday Igbuya, during the proceedings of the house in Asaba.
Presenting the bill, Igbuya said that the bill, when passed into law, would provide autonomy for the judicial arm of government to operate.
He also said that the bill would help to provide for direct release of funds from the consolidated revenue fund of the state.
Igbuya said that it would help to remove all bottle neck associated with the civil service rule on release of funds.
Supporting the bill, the Deputy Speaker, Mr Basil Ganagana, said that the bill would help to strengthen the judiciary in the dispensation of justice in the state.
Mr Tim Owhefere, representing Isoko North Constituency, noted that the bill was timely.
He added that ”judiciary is the hope of the common man’’.
”This bill will assist the judiciary to discharge its duty without fear or favour of any one.”
The immediate past speaker of the house, Mr Victor Ochei, noted that the bill had a constitutional backing that permitted it to be enacted at the various states of the federation.
According to Ochei, “the bill does not require any further deliberation and I therefore urge the house to unanimously support it’’.
Consequently, the bill was unanimously adopted through a voice vote and referred to the House Committee on Rules, Business, Legal and Judicial Matters for scrutiny.(NAN)