DTHA: 13th-Month Salary Bill Scales First Reading

The Delta State House of Assembly has given first reading to a bill seeking to provide for the payment of a 13th-month salary to public servants in Delta State.

The bill, alongside two other executive amendment bills, was presented during Tuesday’s plenary presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor.

At the commencement of proceedings, the House suspended relevant Standing Rules following a motion moved by the Deputy Speaker to allow the member representing Ndokwa West Constituency, Hon. Charles Emetulu, to act as Leader of the House in the absence of the substantive Leader and Deputy Leader.

Presenting the executive bills for first reading, Emetulu listed them as the Delta State Payment of Thirteenth Month Salary Bill, 2026; Delta State High Court Amendment Bill, 2026; and Delta State Customary Court of Appeal Amendment Bill, 2026.

House Confirms New Auditor-General

In another development, the House screened and confirmed the nomination of Mr. Emasogbe Matthew Oghene as Auditor-General of Delta State.

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The House dissolved into the Committee of the Whole for the screening exercise, during which the member representing Ethiope West State Constituency, Hon. Blessing Achoja, presented Oghene as one of his constituents.

Following the screening, the nominee was confirmed by the House.

The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, charged the new Auditor-General to deploy his experience towards promoting accountability, transparency and sound financial management in the state.

Assembly Adopts Report on 25 LG Councils

The House also considered and adopted the recommendations of the House Committee on Public Accounts on the report of the Auditor-General for Local Governments concerning the financial statements of Delta State’s 25 Local Government Councils for the year ended December 2025.

Presenting the committee’s findings, its Chairman, Hon. James Augoye, recommended that the councils intensify their internal revenue generation efforts and ensure strict compliance with relevant local government laws, financial regulations and accounting guidelines.

The recommendations were unanimously adopted through a voice vote.

Guwor commended the Committee on Public Accounts for its detailed examination of the financial statements, noting that its recommendations would help strengthen accountability and financial discipline at the grassroots.

The House subsequently adjourned plenary to Wednesday, September 9, 2026.