Theophilus Onojeghen, Warri
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State on Friday signed into law a bill criminalising the illegal and forceful collection of levies also known as ‘deve’ from public and private developers in the state.
Okowa assented to the bill titled “Delta State Public and Private Properties Protection Bill 2018” at a brief ceremony attended by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori; Clerk of the Assembly, Mrs Lyna Ocholor and other top government functionaries in his office.
The State Assembly had recently passed the bill for the governor assent.
The governor stated that the new law would put to an end the incessant harassment of developers particularly by youths who often times chase away investors who are ready to do business in the state with illegal levies.
He expressed confidence that with the signing into law of the bill prohibiting illegal and forceful entry into development sites, the state will witness speedy development.
He said, “We will collaborate with the Delta State House of Assembly to ensure that laws are passed to impact positively on the lives of our people.
“I am glad that this bill to prohibit the forceful entry into public and private properties has been passed into law as it will stop youths from trespassing into property development sites in the state and make investment to thrive. This prohibition will impact on the lives of our people and bring investment sanity into the state.”
The governor equally assented to a bill to amend the State Oil Producing Area Developmental Commission (DESOPADEC) law.
Okowa explained that the DESOPADEC amendment bill was meant to ensure that no vacuum was created in the leadership of the commission as government can now extend the tenure of the board under given circumstances.
In his remark, DTHA Speaker, Oborevwori informed the governor that the two bills had undergone the rigorous legislative scrutiny before being passed into law, assuring that the house would continue to partner executive for positive development of the state.
source: https://punchng.com/okowa-signs-into-law-bill-criminalising-collection-of-deve-in-delta/
