The Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Emmanuel Emeruwa, has rejected suggestions that the legislature is being controlled by the executive arm of government, maintaining that both institutions work together harmoniously in the interest of the state.

Emeruwa made the remarks on Tuesday in Umuahia during events marking the third anniversary of the 8th Abia State House of Assembly.

According to him, the Assembly has intentionally fostered a cordial relationship with the executive to promote effective governance and ensure the smooth delivery of development initiatives across the state.

“We maintained a cordial relationship with the government because, if there is any rift, the state will suffer,” he said.

“The relationship between the House and the Executive has been very cordial and harmonious, and we intend to keep it that way. We try to maintain that and resolve issues amicably.”

Responding to claims that the legislature lacks independence, Emeruwa insisted that the Assembly remains capable of expressing differing views when necessary.

“I disagree with the idea that the Executive has pocketed the State Assembly. We can disagree, and at the end, the matter is settled in a peaceful manner,” he added.

Reflecting on the achievements of the 8th Assembly, the Speaker said lawmakers had enacted numerous laws spanning welfare, criminal justice, political matters, and appropriation.

“We have done so many laws, from welfare laws, criminal laws, and political appropriation laws. We have covered all grounds,” he said.

He noted that the volume of legislation passed by the Assembly was substantial enough that greater attention could now be directed toward implementation.

“There are too many laws that you may even say we should stop making laws for now, to implement the ones we have already done. If we keep implementing, every field, every aspect of human life has been touched.

“We have covered almost everywhere in lawmaking within this eighth assembly,” he stated.

Emeruwa also revealed plans to digitise the operations of the Assembly, although he acknowledged that funding remains a significant challenge to achieving that goal.

On constituency projects, he said lawmakers had facilitated various projects across the state but stressed that the Assembly’s primary constitutional responsibility remains lawmaking.

The Speaker further expressed satisfaction with the growth of the Labour Party’s representation in the House, noting that the number of its lawmakers had increased from nine to eleven.

Commenting on the killing of nursing student Wendy Achumba in Imo State, Emeruwa said members of the Assembly had paid a condolence visit to the victim’s family and expressed confidence that justice would prevail.

“Since those suspects have been caught, it is the duty of the law to investigate them and probably those who are arrested will face justice,” he said.

Despite highlighting the Assembly’s accomplishments over the past three years, the Speaker admitted that some objectives remain unmet.

“We haven’t gotten everything we wanted,” he said.