WITH ANDREW IKEHI

 It was a busy session for members of the Delta State House of Assembly, recently. It was at its peak Tuesday, July 28 as the Lawmakers, understandably, had a long hour of legislative proceedings as against their previous sittings. The long hour legislative pinwheels, was however, preceded by yet, another long hour caucus meeting by the legislators. The outcome, reason and import of the Caucus meeting which was attended by a cream of the lawmakers, including the Principal Officers had remained top secret as no one was ready to brief the press who were locked out of the meeting that began early hours of the day.

Rising from the caucus meeting, the Lawmakers headed straight to the Hallowed Chamber of the Assembly complex for the usual Legislative work.

Following the order of the Day which was earlier made available, no one was in the dark of the day’s proceeding. It was obvious where the legislative pendulum was targeted at.

Expectedly, one of the protuberant legislative fireworks at the day’s proceeding was the Delta State Occupational Safety Bill 2020(HB.19) which had earlier, in the previous sittings at the hallowed chamber, passed First and Second Readings.

And that was it.

The Bill which saw the day’s proceedings dissolved into Committee of the Whole House attracted robust debate with the lawmakers, remarkably at their best, and without resort to hyperbole, displayed uncommon legislative ingenuity.

Following the third reading of the Bill which seeks to provide for public safety, detection and prevention of crimes in public places in the state, it was subsequently passed following a motion to that effect by the House Leader, Hon. Tim Owhefere, seconded by the Member Representing Ughelli South, Hon Rueben Izeze and adopted.

The motion for the bill to be read the third time and passed came after an intensive work on it, at the Committee of the Whole, which was presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori.

Announcing progress after the legislative fireworks, the Speaker said members had carefully examined the bill from the long title to the last clause, stating that the amendments and contributions of members were very helpful in the consideration of the bill.

While commending his colleagues for their patience throughout the exercise and for ensuring that the bill was passed, the Speaker explained that the proposed law was coming barely a week after the house passed the Delta State Community Security Agency Corps Bill. He noted that the proposed law will help in strengthening the security architecture in the State just as he commended the State Governor, Senator IfeanyiOkowa for his commitment to the task of securing the lives and property of Deltans.He said the new law will certainly improve the security situation in the state.

The bill when assented to by the Governor, made it mandatory for owners or proprietors of any public place such as shopping malls, eateries, Cinemas, supermarkets, petrol and gas stations, private and public motor parks, event centers, Hotels, public and private offices as well as worship centers to install Smart Surveillance Cameras in such places.

The new law will ensure that the cameras must be installed or mounted to capture the views from both inside and surrounding premises of the public place where it is mounted.

Also, footages of the camera shall be used for the purpose of crime detention and prevention, and shall henceforth be lawful for any owner of private residential buildings to install or mount any form of camera in his or her premises for the purpose of security surveillance, provided such camera is not projected to capture images or pictures from any room or building near or adjacent to the premises where it is installed.

The proposed law prescribes a fine of N1 Million or a two-year jail term or both for any individual without legal authority to remove, destroy, redirect the position or tamper with a camera installed or mounted in any place.

It also prescribed that any owner or proprietor of a public place who fails, refuse or neglects to procure and install a camera shall be guilty of an offense and shall upon conviction be liable to imprisonment for a term of two years or a fine of N500, 000 and the premises shall be sealed up.

In the case of corporate body, such defaulting organization shall be liable to a fine of N500, 000 and sealing up of such premises until compliance with the provisions of the Law. Any owner of private home or premises who uses the camera to take picture of any person for the purpose of intimidating, blackmailing or to cause any form of disrepute to such person, commits an offense and on conviction, shall be liable to one year imprisonment or N300, 000 fine or both.

Meanwhile, it would be recalled that this is coming barely one week after the House, also passed into law A Bill for a law establishing the Delta State Community Security Corps Agency 2020, which was passed by the State House of Assembly after it scaled through the third reading at the floor of the House.

The third reading of the bill, The Pointer reports, was sequel to a motion moved at plenary by the Majority Leader, Hon. Tim Owhefere and adopted at the sitting presided over by the Speaker, Rt Hon. Sherrif Oborevwori.

The State lawmakers had at the Committee of the Whole considered the report of the joint House Commi t tees on Special Bills and Security Matters which had early scrutinized the bill.

The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori while commending the legislators for painstakingly working on the proposed law, said the thirty eight clause bill will help promote peace, security of lives and property as well as good governance in the state.

The Delta State Community Security Corps Agency Bill which was forwarded to the Delta State House of Assembly two weeks ago by the State Governor, Senator IfeanyiOkowa, is aimed at establishing a community based security outfit that would assist in maintaining law and order in the state.

The Majority Leader and Chairman, House Committee on Information, Hon Tim Owhefere told newsmen after the passage of the bill that the problem of insecurity in the country is increasing by the day, and that any effort geared towards checking it must be supported by all critical stakeholders.

Hon Owhefere explained that the Community based Security Agency will assist the Nigerian Police Force in policing the state, adding that the new security outfit will help in information and intelligence gathering which are necessary tools in curbing the rising cases of insecurity in the state.

The Majority Leader emphasized that insecurity has taken over the daily lives of the people, stating that the establishment of the State Community Security Corps Agency would help address the ugly development that had made life unbearable in the state.

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