Twenty-seven members-elect of the 10th Imo State Assembly have proceeded to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, for a five-day retreat and orientation on legislative proceedings, scheduled to commence today.
An aide to Speaker of the state Assembly, Ikenna Iwuoha, disclosed this, yesterday, in a statement.
He said: “To ensure the 10th Imo Assembly takes off on sound footing, incoming and returning lawmakers would, today, embark on a five-day retreat and orientation exercise in Uyo.”
Iwuoha maintained that it is customary to embark on such programme to equip lawmakers, saying: “As the custom and tradition of the legislative arm of government, before lawmakers are inaugurated, incoming and returning House members are taken through rules and procedures of parliamentary business by legislative experts to prepare them on task and challenges ahead.
“The retreat would provide lawmakers the opportunity to familiarise themselves with their mandate, educating them on legislative processes, especially the incoming legislators.”
“The legislative tools that would give them a head-start in legislative responsibility to their constituents would also be provided them.”
Iwuoha noted that incoming legislators would be trained on rules and procedures of parliamentary business, vis-a-vis how to sponsor bills, motions, present petitions, budgeting processes (appropriation), oversight, conflict resolution in communities, and working independently as an arm of government, in collaboration with other arms, to provide services to the electorate.
The state governor, Hope Uzodimma, according to the statement, is expected to present a keynote address, while the Speaker would give a goodwill message.
