The Adamawa State House of Assembly has started a three-day induction training for the two hundred and twenty-six newly elected councilors and clerks of the twenty-one local government areas of the state
Speaker of the House Alhaji Aminu Iya Abba, while declaring the induction open at the conference Hall of Fadfatis Event Center Yola, urged the participants to use the knowledge to enhance their capabilities and skills in the discharge of their legislative functions.
Represented by his deputy Mr. Pwamakeino Mackondo of the Numan constituency, the speaker charged them to ensure check and balance, accountability and transparency in the local government Councils.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman House of Assembly Standing Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Umar Nashon Gubi, said the induction is aimed at training the participants to know the practices and procedures in the legislative processes to build the capacity of local government legislators for effective performance.
Umar Nashon who is representing Nasarawo Binyeri in the State Assembly added that the House and the Ministry decided to organize the induction workshop to build the capacity of the participants to know their constitutional roles and mold them for quality performance to become more efficient and productive.
On his part, the Commissioner Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Yayaji Mijinyawa called on the participants to avail themselves of knowledge of lawmaking to enable them to exercise their legislative functions.
Speaking while leading the technical session, the member representing the Verre constituency and the chairman house committee on interplanetary affairs, labor, and employment Alhaji Abdullahi Umar Yapak, tasked the participants to strive hard and provide quality representation to the people of their various political wards.
Presenting his paper titled, functions of the Legislative: Powers, Privileges, and Immunities the member representing the Shelleng constituency and the chairman house committee on Housing and Urban Development, Alhaji Abubakar Isa, said the main functions of the legislative in the local government council are lawmaking, oversight, and representation.
He added that the local government legislative council is responsible for enacting, amending, and repealing bye-laws, monitoring the implementation of the budget through oversight, and presenting the needs, aspirations, and concerns of the people he is representing at the ward level.
Abubakar Isa revealed that a councilor serves as delegates that transmit constituency performance and express them in the legislature, adding that, they also serve as trustees that use their judgment to determine what is in the best interest of their people
Presenting his paper entitled, Opening a New Parliamentary Session, the closing of a parliament Standing Orders and the Mace, the clerk of the house Alhaji Umar Usman Hamid highlighted the opening of a new parliament, meeting of a new legislative council, confirmation of returns of writs, and election of a new leader, among others as major procedures of the new parliament.
The clerk of the house also reminded them to ensure strict compliance with the constitution of the Federal Republic, bye-laws, and other standing rules and orders in their legislative proceedings and processes.
In his two papers presentation on legislative practice and procedure of the budget process and how a bill becomes law in the legislative councils, Doctor Shaibu Dan Wanka of the National Institute for legislative studies explained that strict adherence to due process is one of the most important aspects in all the processes.
Former clerk’s of the house Mr. Frances Gbansenso and Alhaji Musa Ahmad Gaude presented papers on the committee of the legislature, legislative terms and usages and responsibilities of councilors to their constituencies while Hajiya Aisha Umar permanent Secretary and House of Assembly Service Commission Presented a paper on separation of powers and rule of law.
The high points of the induction workshop are questions and answers and the presentation of certificates to the participants.
