Fredrick Umuerure
The Bill for the Establishment of a Federal University Teaching Hospital in Erawha–Owhe in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State has passed the second reading at the Green Chamber, just as the sponsor of the Bill, Hon. Pastor Jonathan Ajiroghene Ukodhiko, has assured the Isoko nation of more democratic dividends.
It would be recalled that the national lawmaker had sponsored the Bill for an Act to Amend the existing University Teaching Hospitals Reconstitution Boards to allow for the establishment of the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Erawha–Owhe in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State.
Leading the debate on the floor of the hallow chamber of the House, Ukodhiko stressed the importance and significance of the Bill to the people of Isoko Nation, Delta State and Nigerians at large.
According to him, the Federal University Teaching Hospital will be a great source of addition to the existing ones in the Niger Delta as a whole both in job creation when passed into Law through the second and final reading.
“Mr. Speaker, this bill seeks to amend the University Teaching Hospitals (Reconstitution of Boards, etc.) Act 1985 to make its performance more efficient, effective, and people-oriented and to create access to quality healthcare facilities and create job opportunities.
“Section 1 of the Principal Act provides for the establishment of the Act, which I now seek your kind approval to amend the same to introduce new clauses 1,2 “Q” and 3 to establish the Federal University Teaching Hospital in ERAWHA-OWHE, ISOKO NORTH LGA, Delta State.
“Mr. Speaker and Honourable Colleagues, it is naturally said that medically certified good health is the greatest wealth available to human beings. Access to medical health care is a veritable human right according to the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, which Nigeria is a signatory to; hence, the government takes deliberate steps in establishing healthcare facilities to enable its citizens to access adequate health care delivery.” the lawmaker argued.
He further underscored the essence of the establishment of the medical facility, stressing that “when this bill is passed into law, the Teaching Hospital will be cited in Erawha-Owhe, Isoko North LGA, Delta State, to enable my constituents and Nigerians living in that region of the country to have access to quality medical treatments, healthcare services, and medical education, as all these were unavailable before now and during the COVID-19 pandemic”.
Ukodhiko also drew the attention of the House to one of the major reasons why the Isoko nation deserves the establishment of such institution in the area, adding that “My Federal Constituency, Isoko North and South, despite her enormous contribution to the nation’s GDP through crude oil exploration and production, still lacks Federal Government presence in terms of infrastructural projects directed at alleviating the sufferings of my constituents in all forms.”
The climax of the debate was the passing of the Bill after the second reading from where it was referred to all relevant Committees for action before the third and final reading.
The lawmaker however called on his constituents to continue to maintain peace and demonstrate support for both the federal and state governments in order to attract more democratic dividends.
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