By Francis Igata, Enugu

Construction of roads going on in he three senatorial districts of Enugu State is a product of  the approval of a revised supplementary budget brought before the state House of Assembly by the executive arm. In this interview,Leader of the House,Ikechukwu Ezugwu,representing Udenu Constituency , sheds light on the cordial relationship between the legislature and the executive in the past one year which culminated in the milestones recorded by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. Excerpts

What type of relationship has existed between the executive and the legislature in the 6th House?

The relationship between the executive and legislative arms in Enugu State for the past one year has been cordial. It has been so because the flow of communication has been fluid. The executive has carried the legislature along from day one. So, we know the direction the government is going. That makes it easier for better understanding between the two arms.

In what areas can you say this cordial relationship is manifest?

The relationship manifests virtually in all areas. For instance,if there is financial executive bill,the executive usually even before it comes, briefs the leadership of the House. It does not come from the sky. Take for instance the Budget Support Facility that we just passed. You know it was an initiative of the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Finance. So the Minister wrote to the governor,stating what the President had in mind. Before the executive arm brought the bill for the state to be able to access the fund, the leadership of the House was briefed. That made it easier for us to talk to our colleagues. It makes everybody to be on the same page. Information flow is  germane in any relationship, even in marriage. The flow removes suspicion and doubt.

How many bills were introduced and passed by the House in the first year?

During the past one year, we  received a total of sixteen bills. Out of the sixteen,the number of executive bills that we passed is six. The number of private member bill passed is three. Four of the executive bills have passed through second reading; so, very soon, we will have a total of ten bills passed. The remaining executive and private member bills have gone through first reading.

The one that is most impactful is the budget appropriation bill. This is because the budget cuts across all facets of life. It encompasses the roads,schools,hospitals among others. There is a revised supplementary law which was passed. Nothing is cast on stone. As things changes we are meant to be flexible. The executive saw that there is need to thinker with the budget so their was this revised budget which captured some essential areas. You can see all the roads that Government is constructing. That is where it was captured. That is why you can see all these massive road constructions going on in all the senatorial zones in Enugu State.

What is the House doing to ensure that its oversight function is carried out so that Enugu people will get value for their money?

The oversight function of the House is taken seriously. We know that as legislators we have three cardinal functions which are representing the people,making law and carrying out oversight functions. What we do is that we start early so that if anything is going wrong,it can be corrected. We do not wait until the end of a project to oversight. If we wait for the projects to be completed,

we will not have room to effect corrections if any. Money would have been lost by then. As we start early,if there are abnormalies that we notice,we ensure that we call the contractor to order so that the state will get value for their money. Moreover,we are lucky to have governor who was a former legislator at the National Assembly. He understands that their is need for us to actually go on the oversight function. By so doing, we are helping the executive arm and ensuring that the masses who voted for us overwhelmingly will get the real dividends of democracy. We will at the end of this first four years tenure,surpass the expectations of our constituents.