A bill to reform the Delta state electric power sector passed second reading in the Assembly Delta House on Tuesday.
The bill is sponsored by Anthony Elekeokwuri (PDP-Ika North East) and 26 other PDP lawmakers.
Elekeokwuri, who led the debate on the matter, said that the bill, once passed, would help accelerate the socio-economic development of the state.
Elekeokwuri denounced the epileptic situation of the power supply in the country.
He said: “Before now, it was wrongly believed that the power was reserved only in the exclusive legislative list, but recent revelations have shown that the power is also embedded in the concurrent legislative list.”
Elekeokwuri cited Lagos and Ondo states as benchmarks where such laws already existed and called for swift passage of the reform bill.
The legislator noted that the bill, once passed, would give the state a bit of life in terms of further industrialization, peace and security.
“If we have an adequate energy supply in the state, there will be growth in all facets of our economy. We need energy to power our economy because we have everything we need to generate, transmit and distribute energy in the state,” he said.
Supporting the bill’s passage, Deputy House Majority Leader and Bomadi State Constituency Representative Member Oboro Preyor praised the bill’s lead sponsor.
Mr. Preyor said, “This is one of the most important bills we have recently received.
“The industrial revolution cannot take place without an adequate energy supply and an adequate energy supply triggers the industrial revolution.”
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For his part, the member representing the Ughelli South constituency, Reuben Izeze, also praised the bill’s sponsor for his courage.
Mr. Izeze said: “I am counting on the support of my constituents to back this bill as it would help address some of the irregularities in the electricity sector.
“About 95 percent of the communities in the state currently live in the dark. This bill, when passed, would help address a worrying trend in the state,” he said.
The Speaker, Sheriff Oborevwori, referred the bill to the House Power and Energy Committee for further scrutiny, after members through a voice vote unanimously supported the bill.
(YAYA)