By Dave Okpogadie, Asaba
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, has called for financial autonomy of the Judicial and Legislative Arms of government. He said such autonomy is necessary to engender speedy and effective service delivery to the people.
Okowa stated this at a thanksgiving service at Emmanuel The Saviour Catholic Church, Asaba, to usher in the 2019/2020 Legal Year in Delta State.
He said there was need for greater partnership among the three arms of government to ensure good governance and provide desired autonomy for all the arms.
“I believe that when people work together they do not have any fear. We are able to discuss our problems together and to share common solutions, because either elected or appointed, our goal is to serve the people.
“Together in partnership, we will be able to offer the best to our people, because no matter what you do, if it is not right with the Judiciary, it cannot be right with the common man and we believe that it is very pressing for the Judiciary to have financial autonomy.
“We are very confident that with the way the House of Assembly is working; the financial autonomy will be granted the judiciary before the end of the year.
“We have set the ball rolling. We are the first state to operate fully, the financial autonomy for the legislature, though we are the second state to pass the bill.
“I believe that they (Assembly) will be fast in ensuring that they pass the bill for financial autonomy for the judiciary and ensure that it is operationalized, because we are very desirous of the financial autonomy for the judiciary,” the governor said.
He congratulated the judiciary for believing in God and seeking His wisdom, noting that judiciary is very important in the country.
“In this kind of very challenging situation we find ourselves in the country, everybody looks up to the judiciary to continuously ensure that righteousness and wisdom continue to guide you to ensure that there is peace and justice,” he added.
Earlier, the Catholic Bishop of Issele-Uku Diocese, Most Revd. Michael Elue, in a sermon said, “Just, honest and accountable governance is the hallmark of democracy”.
“The actions of government must be scrutinized by the courts at the instance of the citizens; a judge is like a surgeon in the theatre, a mistake can be fatal,” pointed out.
The deputy governor, Mr Kingsley Otuaro, two former deputy governors, Chief Benjamin Elue and Prof. Amos Utuama, speaker, House of Assembly, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori; chief judge of the state, Justice Marshal Umukoro, traditional rulers and other dignitaries, attended the church service.
