On Tuesday, the Delta House of Assembly approved Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s request to formally approach President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime to refund the stamp-duty backlog between January 2015 and December 2022.

The approval followed a motion by majority leader Ferguson Onwo during the plenary session presided over by Deputy Speaker Christopher Ochor.

Mr Okowa had, in a letter to the assembly, asked for approval to submit relevant documents to the Governors’ Forum on or before Wednesday.

“The necessary documents to be submitted by the respective state governments regarding the Stamp Duties Recovery and Refund are a letter of consent from the deduction of consultancy fee at source, Resolutions/Approval of the State Executive Council and Resolution of the State House of Assembly,” stated the letter.

It added, ”I wish to take advantage of the window of opportunity by actively pursuing the process of accessing funds which had hitherto been denied the state, which can be utilised for the significant developmental projects by the state.”

After the letter was read, the majority leader moved a motion to approve the request.

Minority leader Innocent Anidi seconded the motion.

The lawmakers unanimously adopted the motion when it was put to a voice vote by the deputy speaker. 

(NAN)