By Peter Ogege
A Bill seeking to provide for the payment of a thirteenth-month salary to public servants in Delta State has scaled first reading on the floor of the Delta State House of Assembly.
The executive bill, alongside two other amendment bills, gained legislative attention during Tuesday’s plenary presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor.
At the commencement of proceedings, the House, following a motion moved by the Deputy Speaker, suspended relevant Standing Rules to enable the member representing Ndokwa West Constituency, Hon. Charles Emetulu, to act as Leader of the House in the absence of the substantive Leader and Deputy Leader.
In separate motions, the Acting Leader of the House, Hon. Emetulu, subsequently presented three executive bills for first reading.
The bills include the Delta State Payment of Thirteenth Month Salary Bill, 2026, the Delta State High Court Amendment Bill, 2026, and the Delta State Customary Court of Appeal Amendment Bill, 2026.
In another development, the House screened and confirmed the nomination of Mr. Emasogbe Matthew Oghene for appointment as the Auditor-General of Delta State.
The House dissolved into the Committee of the Whole to conduct the screening, with the member representing Ethiope West Constituency, Hon. Blessing Achoja, presenting Mr. Emasogbe as one of his constituents.
Following the screening, the nominee was confirmed by the House.
Announcing the confirmation, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, charged the new Auditor-General to bring his wealth of experience to bear in promoting accountability, transparency and sound financial management in the state.
Also at plenary, the House considered and adopted the recommendations of the House Committee on Public Accounts on the report of the Auditor-General for Local Governments concerning the financial statements of the 25 Local Government Councils in Delta State for the year ended December 2025.
Presenting the committee’s findings and observations, its Chairman, Hon. James Augoye, recommended, among other measures, that the Local Government Councils intensify their internal revenue generation efforts and ensure strict compliance with relevant local government laws, financial regulations and accounting guidelines.
The House, through a unanimous voice vote, adopted the committee’s recommendations.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, commended the Committee on Public Accounts for what he described as a thorough examination of the financial statements and its recommendations aimed at strengthening accountability at the grassroots.
The House thereafter adjourned plenary to Wednesday, September 9, 2026.
