Delta State Boundary Committee Law

1. Citation. This law may be cited ds the Delta State Boundary Committee Law.

2. Interpretation. In this law- "Committee" means the Delta State; "Governor" means the Governor of Delta State; "Member" includes the Chairman of the Council; "Non-ex officio members" means boundary committee members that are traditional rulers.

3. Establishment of Boundary Committee. There is hereby established a body to be known as the Delta State Boundary Committee (herein called "the Committee").

4. Membership of Committee. (1) The membership of the Committee shall consist of the following- (a) the Deputy Governor, who shall be the chairman; (b) the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice; (c) the Commissioner for Lands, Surveys and Urban Development; (d) the Commissioner for Works; (e) the Commissioner for Transport; (f) the Commissioner for Information; (g) the Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning; (h) the State Commissioner of Police; (i) the Director of State Security Services; (j) the Permanent Secretary, Directorate of Political Security Matters; (k) the Permanent Secretary, Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs;the Permanent Secretary, Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs; (l) the Surveyor-General of the State; (m) two boundary scholars; (n) three traditional rulers in the State, one from each senatorial district. (2) The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Lands, Surveys and Urban Development shall be the Secretary to the Committee. (3) Members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Governor and shall remain so appointed at his pleasure. (4) The remuneration of the non-ex officio members shall be fixed by the Governor.

5. Meetings. The Committee shall meet not less than three times every quarter of the year.

6. Quorum. (1) Five members of the Committee shall form a quorum at every meeting of the Committee. (2) The Chairman shall preside at any meeting of the Committee and in his absence the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice shall preside.

7. Functions of the Committee. (1) The functions of the Committee shall be- (a) to deal with inter-local government boundary disputes within the State with a view to resolving them; (b) to monitor border relations with neighbouring States and between Local Government Areas within the State, with a view to detecting areas of tension and possible conflicts and take necessary measures to address them; (c) to liaise with the Boundary Committees of neighbouring States with a view to taking joint measures to promote cordial inter-community and inter-State relationships; (d) to constantly evaluate the developmental needs of the border areas and advise Government accordingly; (e) to secure and protect all boundary marks including beacons and irons or pillars of any nature in place for the purpose of demarcating boundaries; (f) to evolve measures for equitable joint utilisation of shared border resources, facilities and amenities along State and local government area borders; (g) to encourage and promote joint inter-communal development ventures among border dwellers; (h) to encourage negotiated settlement of boundary disputes and other related issues; (i) to monitor and co-ordinate the activities of Local Government Boundary Committees within the State and deal with disputes beyond the competence of the said Committees; and (j) to interact with the Zonal Liaison Officer of the National Boundary Commission in the area. (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1), the Committee may with the approval of the Governor take over any boundary dispute being handled by the Local Government Boundary Committee. (3) The Committee shall forward through the Governor periodic reports on border disputes, of its efforts, and recommendation to the National Boundary Commission.

8. Power of the Governor. The Governor may give the Committee directives of general character or relating generally to a particular area for the purpose of achieving the objectives of this law and it shall be the duty of the Committee to comply with such directives.

9. Common seal. (1) The Committee shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal and shall have power to sue and be sued in its corporate name. (2) The seal of the Committee shall be attested to by both the Chairman and the Secretary.