By : Doris Oliver
The Clerk of Imo State House of Assembly/ Head,Legislative Service Chinelo Adaora Emeghara Esq played host to the Senate of the Law Students Association (LAWSA) Nigeria which is the umbrella body for Law Students in Nigeria who were in the State for a Legislative Summit. The first of such summit to be organised by the Association.
The thirty-five member team drawn from various law faculties across the country was led by Hon. Olebara Chukwuemeka( Speaker) to Imo state House of Assembly as part of the activities marking their legislative summit .
The Deputy Speaker and member representing Nwangele State Constituency,Rt Hon Amara Chyna Iwuanyanwu pointed out that as law students, they have added advantage if they decide to become legislators.
He advised them to endeavour to go into politics and work their ways to their various State Houses of Assembly in the future.
The member representing Mbaitoli State Constituency, Hon. Innocent Ikpamezie who also spoke to them, encouraged them to strive to be lawyers of repute and lawyers with dignity as he maintained that the House of Assembly worked in synergy with the Executive arm to distribute dividends of democracy to the electorate.
He pointed out that lawmakers are responsible for the enactment and amendment of laws for the well-being of imolites. He opined that as lawmakers,they have a duty to ensure effective representation of their constituents in the House of Assembly and to enact people oriented Bills and Motions for the Citizens of Imo State. He also harped on the need for Lawyers to be part of law-making, so encouraged them to take their studies seriously in order to qualify as vibrant lawyers.
On the administrative side of the house, the Clerk/ Head legislative service, Chinelo Adaora Emeaghara Esq explained the house organogram to them, as she said that there are 2 presiding officers and other principal officers drawn from House members from different State Consttuencies.
She also lectured the law students on the procedure for law-making and amendments as well as the meaning of bills and motions.
The Clerk also took time to answer questions from the members of the association on the topics she lectured them on and other areas of interest to the law students especially as it relates to procedures used by the House of Assembly during plenary sessions.
Earlier, the Clerk took the students on a tour of the world – class House of Assembly Complex, which she said has remained the best House of Assembly building in the entire Nigeria.
She emphasized that the Governor, having served as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria knew that the House members needed a Conducive environment to work and went ahead to bequeath us with a world class functional and digitalized assembly complex.
During the said visit to the House of Assembly,the law students also had lectures from other seasoned bureaucrats
One of the lecturers Mr Ben Uwakwe who is the Legislative Consultant took the topic “The Legislature as a catalyst”, and the second lecturer and the Deputy Clerk of the House of Assembly, Mr Augustine Okubuike dealt with topic
” Legislation as a tool for enhancing the welfare of citizens in a democratic society “. Where he explained to the group what Conduct, Procedures, Oversight Functions,House Committees,Public Hearings, House Rules, Order Paper, Committee of the Whole,Presiding and Principal Officers, Gavel and Mace, Quorum, Attendance of Members,Discipline of Members,and many more concepts of the House of Assembly.
Hon. Olebara Chukwuemeka said that the Senate summit of law students association of Nigeria chose Imo State as a result of the huge succeses recorded by the present administration in the areas of people oriented Bills and Motions as well as the giant infrastructural achievements made by the administration of His Excellency,Senator Hope Uzodinma CON. He also commended the smooth working relationship between the Executive and the Legislature, which he described was a great catalyst for growth and development.
The group was led by:
Hon Olebara Chukwuemeka-Speaker
Hon Igbo Prince Ibenador – Clerk
Hon Chiemela Glory Chinecherem – Secretary
Hon Showemimo Musibat Olaide-Sergent At Arm
Amongst others.
The group thanked the leadership of the 10th Imo State House of Assembly especially the Clerk of the House for giving them the opportunity to learn from the wealth of experience of the House members and other staff who welcomed them well and took time to lecture them. He promised that they would put all they learned into practice.
