LEBOWAKGOMO - Northern Province Premier Ngoako Ramatlhodi is expected to focus on urgent economic and social issues, such as education, HIV Aids and unemployment when he addresses the Provincial Legislature's opening session on February 14.

From February 18 to 22, members of the House will be given the opportunity to raise questions arising from the Premier's address. Other business scheduled for this session will include the Adjustment Appropriation Bill and the Main Appropriation Bill.

The MEC for Finance will table the Provincial Budget on March 5. After that, the Legislature's Portfolio Committee on Economic Affairs, Finance and Tourism, will hold public consultation meetings in various parts of the province.

The Legislature has applied to the SABC, to have the Premier's address broadcast live on February 14. The SABC's regional television service has been requested to grant adequate coverage of the speech, and to take cognisance of language diversity during the broadcast.

The Legislature has also asked the broadcaster's Northern Province office to investigate the possibility of national coverage of the speech.