The Eighth Abia State House of Assembly has passed no fewer than 37 bills into law in the first two years of its four-year tenure, marking a significant legislative milestone under Speaker Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa.
Emeruwa disclosed this during a media briefing in Umuahia on Friday to commemorate the second anniversary of the Assembly, which was inaugurated on June 14, 2023. He said the legislative strides align with the “New Abia” agenda of Governor Alex Otti, aimed at accelerating the state’s development across multiple sectors.
The speaker noted that while the majority of the bills originated from the executive arm, the Assembly has demonstrated strong legislative output, having passed only five bills in its first year. He pointed to the recent signing of 18 bills by Governor Otti in one session during an expanded State Executive Council meeting—attended by lawmakers—as a sign of the synergy between the arms of government.
“Some people have misconstrued our cordial relationship with the executive as being a rubber stamp,” Emeruwa said. “But the reality is that the harmony is what has enabled the progress we are witnessing. I would not mind being called a rubber stamp if it means there’s peace and development in Abia.”
He emphasized that the legislature has not ceded its powers or independence, stressing that the executive has not overstepped its boundaries. According to him, the Assembly continues to perform its oversight duties rigorously, including monitoring budget implementation and evaluating the performance of political appointees.
On legislative autonomy, the Speaker acknowledged that while Abia has not achieved full autonomy—especially in terms of finances—it has taken a major step forward with the operationalization of the Abia State House of Assembly Service Commission.
“We now have administrative autonomy, and financial autonomy is the next step. Autonomy is constitutional, but its implementation depends largely on the financial capacity of individual states,” he said, expressing confidence that Abia will not lag behind in fully attaining legislative independence.
Emeruwa concluded by reiterating the Assembly’s commitment to good governance, transparency, and supporting policies that deliver tangible benefits to the people of Abia State.
