Development Centres Bounce Back, As Imo Assembly Passes Amendment Bill Into Law •Number Swells To 51 -

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By Onyekachi Eze

Good news for Imolites, as a bill seeking to amend the Imo State Local Government Development Areas Administration Law No. 3 of 2005 has been passed into Law by the State Legislature.

It would be recalled that Governor Hope Uzodinma had recently disclosed of plans to return Development Centres in the State.

The Development Areas lastly functioned during Chief Ikedi Ohakim’s administration.
At the plenary session of yesterday, Members of Imo State House of Assembly debated and eventually passed the bill into Law.

The Lawmakers overwhelmingly supported the bill, which received the gavel after recommendations made by the ad-hoc committee set up to investigate on the feasibility of the bill if passed.

Earlier in his presentation, the Majority Leader who represents Owerri West State Constituency, Hon Kanayo Dele Onyemaechi disclosed that the amended Law will increase the Development Areas from forty-four to fifty-one.

Hon. Onyemaechi gave an insight that members would be appointed from each Areas, as a proactive step to bringing Governance closer to the people.
He said, given by the Governor’s desires in ensuring the equitable distribution of Imo’s wealth and resources, the Development Areas will do more work than pushing all the task to the LGAs only.

He also said at this juncture, the LGAs will be relieved of some of its administrative burden, while the Development Centres Managers will see to the welfare and development of their respective Areas.

Reading out the recommendation of the ad-hoc committee headed by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Amara Chyna Iwuanyanwu, with his Members, Hons, Kanayo Onyemaechi, Michael Onyemaechi Njoku, and Uju Onwudiwe, Speaker Kennedy Ibeh opined that the House has it on good authority to go ahead and pass into Law considering its relevance and benefits the grassroots would gain from its reactivation.
Haven been passed into Law, it’s therefore expected that the Governor would assent to it in no distant time for its implementation.