The Taraba State ninth House of Assembly has passed Forty Executive bills and Executive Orders which are implemented and facilitated Governance and brought dividends of democracy to the people.
The Speaker John Kisito Bonzena who disclosed this at a Valedictory session bringing the end of the Ninth Assembly following an Executive Order from the State Governor Dr. Dantala Kefas Agbu said during the period the House processed over 40 Bills and Executive Orders for passage and assent by His Excellency the Executive Governor Darius Dickson lshaku.
The Speaker said the salient ones include-
The Taraba State Appropriation Law No.01 of 2019,
Taraba State Kidnapping and Abduction Prohibition (Amendment)
Law No 2 of 2019,
The Taraba State Political and Public Office Holders (Remuneration
and Other Benefits) (Amendment Law, No. 5 of 2019,
Taraba State Contributory Health Insurance Agency Law, No. 6 of 2019,
Taraba State Agency for Water Sanitation Services Law, No. 7 of 2019,
The Taraba State Supplementary Appropriation Law No. 8 of 2019
The Taraba State Appropriation Law, No. 1 of 2020
Taraba State Internal Revenue Service Law, No.3 of 2020,
Taraba State Road Tratfic and Motor Vehicle Management Agency (Establisthment, ete) Law, No, 4 of 2020 among others.
John Kisito Bonzena appreciated all the members for their support during his short tenure and prayed God Almighty to reward them bountifully and also appreciated God for preserving all of them to be alive and witnessed this Valedictory Session just as the day they were inaugurated in 2019.
He said however “I am saddened by the fact that, only a handful of us will be returning as we anxiously await the inauguration of the 10th Assembly in Taraba State for my colleagues who will not be returning to this House, I wish all of you best of luck in your future endeavors and for the few of us that are going to be part of the incoming 10th Assembly, may I call on all of you to continue to exhibit that spirit of patriotism and dedicated service which we are known for, for the progress and wellbeing of our beloved State, may the spirit of patriotism, dedicated service, harmonious and cordial working relationship amongst us, Honorable Members always thrive for the benefit of Taraba State”
“Let me at this juncture conclude this speech by giving my advice which is derived from my experience as a Legislator for over a decade the Legislature is the most grassroots arm of government It is also the most visible symbol of democracy as well as the most powerful among all the arms of government.
The Legislature must unite and speak with one voice for it to be respected, It must be devoid of traitors and them “goodboy” syndrome It must be democratic in pursuit of its goals the Legislative- Executive relations must be deliberately made symbiotic and of mutual respect We should note that both the Executive and the Legislative Arms aimed at improving the standard of living of the electorate for whom they are in government to serve there is therefore no reason for antagonism the Legislature and the Executive have no reason to quarrel they are partners in progress”.
The Speaker commended the Executive Governor of Taraba State, Lt. Col. Dr. Dantala Agbu Kefas Rtd. for being very considerate in exercising his constitutional powers of issuing proclamation for the dissolution of the ninth Assembly
“Your Excellency the Taraba State House of Assembly will be in the fore front of supporting you in deliverance of democratic dividends and all the changes your Administration will bring about in Taraba State I also appreciate my colleagues both within and outside the leadership for your patience, understanding and resilience to the Clerk and the rest of our support service providers, you have indeed demonstrated that you are the institutional memory of the Legislature you should continue to prepare for the task ahead as we have moved into a new Administration in the State to the security men, the press, Civil Society groups and other Non-governmental organizations, I say a big thank you for your various contributions in the services to our dear Taraba State. I humbly request that we all forgive each other in any area we were found wanting as we close this Assembly lets all remind ourselves that “out of sight is not out of mind”.
It should be noted that out of the twenty four members in the Taraba State House of Assembly only four were re-elected they are the outgoing Speaker John Kisito Bonzena of Zing Constituency, the outgoing deputy Speaker Hamman Adama Ibn Abdullahi of Bali 2, Tafarki Agbadu Eneme of Kurmi and former Speaker Peter Abel Diah of Bamga Constituency the remaining twenty members were sent packing by the electorates which should be a big lesson to the incoming new members.
