Today, Thursday 12th June, 2025, the 8th Anambra State House of Assembly has successfully completed her 2nd Session, otherwise called Second Anniversary with massive results in all aspects of legislative engagements.Inauagurated on June 12, 2023, the 8th State Assembly unanimously elected the Member Representing Ogbaru Two Constituency, Rt.Hon.Somtochukwu Udeze, Ph.D as the Speaker.His election was relatively peaceful, even as the House under his watch has demonstrated an appreciable degree of competence and diligence in the discharge of its onerous responsibilities.
The Speaker, Rt Hon.Somtochukwu Udeze came fully prepared to pilot the affairs of the State Legislature, where he has been elected three times by his people of Ogbaru two constituency.Under his leadership, legislative business in the State has remarkably improved in the areas of enactment of quality laws, oversight duties and constituency relations, all geared towards the overall development of the State.Recall that the Speaker had in his inaugural speech, promised to reposition the Legislative Arm of Anambra State Government for optimal service delivery, through transformational reforms and robust partnership in collaboration with his colleagues.He also assured that they will make history in the State by being a House Ndi Anambra will be proud of in all aspects of legislative duties and accomplishments.
In actualizing the goals of the 8th Anambra State House of Assembly, the Speaker, Rt.Hon.Somtochukwu Udeze has introduced several reforms aimed at enhancing their performance and service to the State and the citizenry.Astutely, he ensured that House Standing Committees and Adhoc Committees are headed by lawmakers who have cognitive experience in the areas for smooth operation.There has been a drastic attitudinal change regarding time of the Sitting of the House.Before now, Plenary could commence at any time, but the present Assembly has fixed ten o’clock in the morning as the sitting time.This positive change has recorded impressive compliance by the lawmakers and staff of the Legislature.
Training programmes and workshops for both lawmakers and staff have remained constant features which is another reform introduced by the Speaker.Essentially, the introduction of every Tuesday morning prayer by the Speaker is yielding positive results in the lives of the lawmakers and staff as well as the peace and development of Anambra State.
The 8th Anambra State House of Assembly is living up to her promise to assist the State government in repositioning government organs.Reports from various House Committees indicate that their oversight drive has helped in resuscitating dilapidated government agencies and advancing critical intervention measures in workers discipline, welfare and productivity.The impact of House oversight duties are really felt in all sectors of the State economy, evident in the massive transformational accomplishments of Governor Chukwuma Soludo in the State.
In Constituency Relations also known as Effective Representation, the present 8th State Assembly has distinguished itself among her counterparts in terms of Legislator-Member Relationship/ Empowerment Programmes.The lawmakers have continued to ensure prudent and judicious utilization of whatever allowance that is provided for them in that regard.They have made building of constituency projects and empowerment of their constituents so competitive to the gains of members of their constituencies.
Recently, the Speaker, Rt.Hon.Somtochukwu Udeze organized a Town Hall Meeting and Empowerment Programme where he empowered over three thousand members of his Ogbaru Two Constituency with various materials including sewing machines, grinding machines, generating sets and farm inputs in addition to shuttle buses he had distributed and gigantic Agricultural Processing Plant he is building at Atani to alleviate poverty in Ogbaru council area as well as his first phase of 10 Million Naira Education Grants he provided for Ogbaru
students in Tertiary Institutions and Students Nurses among others.Same is the story from other twenty nine constituencies where lawmakers are contributing to the well-being of their constituents through life surviving and sustaining Empowerment Schemes.
The current 8th Anambra State House of Assembly has done well in Law Making.So far, the House has passed a total of 31 Bills of which almost all of them have been assented to by Governor Chukwuma Soludo.In a clear language, passing 31 Bills in two year is not a small feat when we consider what it takes to pass one quality Bill.Comparatively, the 8th State Assembly is topping the chart in passage of impactful Bills among its counterparts in the country within the two year under review.It has also made 72 Resolutions arising from Motions.
The Bills the House has passed include; Anambra State Oil and Gas Producing Areas Development Commission Bill, Anambra State House of Assembly Commission Amendment Bill, 2024/2025 Appropriation Bills, Secret Cult And Similar Activities Prohibition Bill, Environmental Management, Protection And Administration Bill, Trafficking In Persons Prohibition, Enforcement And Administration Bill, Anambra State Mission Schools Of Nursing And Midwifery Amended Bill, Anambra State Touting Prohibition Bill and Anambra State Market Safety Bill.
Other landmark Bills passed by the 8th State Assembly are; Anambra State Homeland Security Amendment Bill, Anambra State Local Government Administration Bill, Anambra State Economic Planning And Development Bill, Anambra State Indigenous Traditional Medicine Bill, Anambra State Traditional rulers Amendment Bill, Anambra, Anambra State Development And Investment Corporation Bill, Anambra State Electricity Bill as well as Anambra State Commuters Manifest Scheme Bill among others.
One impressive and unprecedented remark about these Bills passed by the 8th State Assembly is that out of the 31 Bills passed, about 10 are “Private Member Bills, in other words, they were originated and sponsored by individual lawmakers.Going by the records, this is the highest Private Member Bills sponsored by lawmakers since creation of the State in 1991.
The harmonious working relationship existing between the 8th Anambra State House of Assembly and the Executive Arm has greatly strengthened development partnership and subsequent transformation of the State.The two Arms of the government, though distinct in operations and responsibilities, have continued to collaborate in realizing the development agenda of the present Soludo administration to the benefit of the entire citizenry.The synergy has played a fundamental role in fostering economic, social and political stability in Anambra State.Again, due largely to the concise and comprehensive nature of the Laws the present State Assembly enacts, the Judiciary Arm of the State finds it easy and more comfortable to make far-reaching interpretations of the Bills for public good.
The cordial Legislative-Executive collaboration has clearly manifested in the great impact the 8th State Assembly has made towards achieving enduring security in the State.The Speaker, Rt.Hon.Somtochukwu Udeze in his wisdom, created a Special House Committee on Security to work with the House Standing Committee on Homeland Security.The success story is that after thirteen days of the passage of the Anambra State Homeland Security Bill by the House, Governor Chukwuma Soludo assented to it and promptly established a formidable Security Outfit, “Operation Udo Ga Achi”which has continued to work day and night for the peace and security of lives and property of Ndi Anambra.
Indeed, expectations are high, but the interesting thing is that the 8th Anambra State House of Assembly under the watch of the Speaker, Rt Hon.Somtochukwu Udeze has proven to be on top of their legislative obligations.Hopes are equally high, but with great assurances that as the 8th Anambra Assembly enters the 3rd Session, greater impacts of the House shall be felt by Ndi Anambra and those doing business in the State.
The 8th State Assembly is full of gratitude to God who has given them the enablements to record significant achievements thus far.The House highly commends the Clerk and the entire staff of the Legislature for their support and commitment to duty, while urging them to sustain the cordial working relationship between them and the lawmakers for enhanced productivity.The 8th Assembly also appreciates her partners, constituents, the Press and various Stakeholders for their support and encouragements so far.
By: Emma Madu
SSA/Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker,
ANHA.
