By Samuel Oyadongha
Yenagoa — Against the backdrop of alleged non-performance and romance with the executive arm, the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, said it has so far passed over 20 bills since the commencement of the present legislative year in 2007.

The House said it has been up and doing since its inauguration in 2007 in ensuring rapid transformation of the state.

Chairman, House Committee on Information and Culture, Mr. Kombowei Benson, who dismissed the allegation while speaking to newsmen in Yenagoa, said the House was committed to the development of the state. He cited the passage of over 20 bills relating to various sectors with direct impact on the people of the state.

Mr. Benson said that debates were on-going on a number of the bills, including the Child Rights, which has gone through the second reading.

The lawmaker representing Southern Ijaw constituency IV, said different motions and resolutions had equally been passed, urging government and other stakeholders to take actions on certain issues.

“As an Assembly, it has been this vibrant. We look at issues based on their placement.

There is no sentiment. And by that, I understand that we have been able to pass into law, twenty bills. If we have done this in this regime, and some other ones on_going, I believe we have done creditably well. The last one we are taking on is the Child Rights bill,” he said.

Mr. Benson said the lawmakers were complementing the efforts of the state government through their various constituency projects adding that about eight communities in his Southern Ijaw constituency IV alone have benefitted from different constituency projects involving electricity project in Kasama, school’s renovation in Olugbobiri and renovation of Unity Bridge in Forupa community.

Answering question on re_election bid of most members of the House, the lawmakers, said he had indicated interest to return to the House to attract more development to the area.

“For me, I am going back to the Assembly. And to my people that have been calling on me to continue and I have responded to their call by accepting to run again. I have the support and mandate of my constituents to represent them again in the House of Assembly and I am very confident of the re_election under the PDP,” he said just as he refused to give the exact number of members seeking re_elections into the House of Assembly.

The House of Assembly spokesman, however, said all the lawmakers had done their beat through useful contribution to legislative functions and wish those seeking re_election and others contesting for higher offices well in their political endeavours.