Akwa Ibom Assembly Update

 Williams Akpabio - Information Unit, AKHA, Uyo In tandem with the provision of the Constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria and the standing order of the House of Assembly,  The Chairman  House of Assembly Committee on Works and Transport  and member representing Eket State Constituency Rt. Hon. David Lawrence today led members of his committee for on-the-spot accessment to inspect the level of work done at Obot Akara, Ikot Ekpene and Ukanafun Local Govt Areas. The Committee firstly visited Nto Edino - Ekwerazu Road in Obot Akara Local Govt. Area handled by SEYANG LTD. At the project site, the committee was received by the CEO of the company Engr. Sam Inyang and the Project Engineer, Engr. Gabriel Obot who took the committee round the project site. Engr. Inyang assured that the 6.41km road which his Excellency Gov. Udom Emmanuel transform to the high way is the best inter-state road of that side of the state for now which will not collapse in the next 100 Yea...

Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and Vice Chairman of Conference of Speaker's of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey, has lauded the 2021 agenda of the Conference. Rt. Hon. Bassey, who attended the maiden Executive Meeting of the Conference on Saturday at Gwarinpa, Abuja, said “the focus and agenda of the new administration and executive committee of the Conference will add more value to members, in terms of capacity building and otherwise.” He said “part of the agenda of the new executive committee of the Conference is our collective determination to make coordinated and sustained efforts to develop policies and pass legislation that will deliberately protect our people and also achieve sustainable economic growth for state and national development.” The Vice Chairman also disclosed that the Conference has, in its agenda, mapped out programmes that will boost members’ efficiency, global relations and communication. Meanwhile, the Conference also ...

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has ratified the 2019 Financial Report/Audited Accounts of Akwa Ibom State Government. Recall that the House had, at its plenary on December 8, 2020, set up an Adhoc Committee to investigate issues surrounding the withdrawal of the 2019 Statement and Accounts of the State Government by the Office of the Accountant General. Chairman of the Adhoc Committee, Rt. Hon. (Sir) Udo Kieran Akpan, while presenting the Committee's report, cited alleged expenditure of N4.864 billion on Toyota Prado Jeeps and  expenditure of N5.04 billion on maintenance of the state Aircraft by the Office of the Secretary to the State Government etc, as some of the issues investigated by the Committee. Rt. Hon. (Sir) Udo Kieran Akpan revealed that the Office of the Accountant General, had on noticing errors in the Account already published by the Accountant General, withdrew the published Account and released a new version. He said the alarm raised by Akwa Ibom people on th...

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has passed into Law a Bill to provide for the Preservation, Protection and Restoration of Historical Properties and Cultural Heritage Sites in the State into Law. This follows the report presented by the Chairmann House Committee on Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Hon. Kufre Edidem, member representing Itu State Constituency. In his presentation, Hon. Edidem stated that several meetings were held with stakeholders as well as inputs through public hearing which  helped the Committee to reach the recommendations tabled before the House. In their recommendations, the Committee said the Law will assist in preserving and maintaining tourism and historical sites and their facilities in the state, enhance the economic growth of Akwa Ibom and create employment for the people of the state. The Law, accordingly to the Committee's report, will also create demand for many more industries, give Akwa Ibom people a sense of pride, hope and identity, while uni...

A Bill for a Law to establish the Akwa Ibom State Health Insurance Agency  has  passed second reading in the State House of Assembly . The Bill which is sponsored by the member representing Abak State Constituency, Hon. Udeme Otong seeks to improve and harness private sector participation  in the provision of healthcare services in the state.  Highlighting the importance of the Bill on Tuesday plenary, the lawmaker noted that  the Bill will " ensure that every resident of the state will have access to quality health care service, protect families from financial hardship of huge medical bills, control the rise in cost of health care and ensure the availability of funds to the health sector for improved services. " In their various submissions, the House members unanimously said the Bill is people oriented and  will aid in controlling the high cost of health care in the state as well as give people access to medical care , thereby reducing high mortality rate...

 Williams Akpabio - Information Unit, AKHA (Uyo) ... threatened to sanction contractors handling road construction in the State for quality and timely delivery of projects .... promised to seek for temporary measures in order to save life and to avoid further devastation at the grooved and erosion ravine at Afiakurue-Oron Road, Oron. House of Assembly Committee on Works as part of their oversight function today embark on inspection tour for on the-spot assessment to ascertain work progress and quality of job done so as to enable his committee know how best contractors  manages money released to them by the State government. The team led by the committee Chairman Rt. Hon. David Lawrence member representing Eket State Constituency visited a construction site of 12.7km Road in Udung Uko with a spur to Eyoabasi Community in Oron L.G.A. constructed by Evomec Global Service LTD and was received by the Company's Project Engineer, Engr. Kenneth Odigie, Surveyor on Site Surv. Joyce Aba...

'A Bill for a Law to Establish the Akwa Ibom State Health Insurance Agency and for Other Matters Connected Therewith' was yesterday read the first time and committed to the House Committee on Rules, Business, Ethics and Privileges for rescheduling. The bill has Honourable Member Representing Abak State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Hon. (Elder) Udeme Otong  as it lead sponsor and 14 other Honourable members as co-sponsors. The bill seeks to provide quality and free health care services for the people of the State, as it shall make provision, provide healthcare services to residents and indigenes of the State at cheaper rates, while involving the private health services provider when passed into law.  The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey, shortly after the first reading of the Bill, refered it to the House Committee on Business, Ethics, Rules and Privilege for rescheduling.

Williams Akpabio - Information Unit, AKHA, (Uyo) Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly in its plenary today confirm the appointment of the former State PDP Chairman Obong Paul Ekpo and four others as Chairman and members of Akwa Ibom State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) The confirmation follows the report of House Committee on Judiciary, Justice, Human Right and Public Petitions which recommended for the approval of the appointment of His Excellency's nominee for the Board as follows: 1. Obong Paul Ekpo - Chairman 2. Elder Godwin Moses Enoidem - Member 3. Mr. Ekong Akpan Ambrose - Member 4. Iniobong Friday Akpan - Member and 5. Johnny Udo - Member. According to the report as presented by her Chairman Hon. (Barr.) Victor Ekwere member representing Mkpat Enin State Constituency, the Committee observed that there was no adverse report against the nominees, that all the nominees met the necessary requirements for appointment as Chairman and members of the Board, and that the nomin...

The Speaker of Akwa Ibom State  House of Assembly, Rt Hon Aniekan Bassey on Monday led members of the 7th Assembly to the State Secretariat of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), Atan Offot, Uyo on a condolence visit to the leadership of the Party over the demise of the party Chairman, late Obong Udo Ekpenyong. In his speech, the Speaker described the late party Chairman as a commmitted servant leader whose loyalty to the party remains unquestionable till his death. He described the late party Chairman as a  man known for his tenacity, uprightness and discipline who will always fight for the interest of the downtrodden. The Speaker lamented that the death of Obong Udo Ekpenyong who was like a father figure to members of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly remains painful to the legislators, the People's Democratic party (PDP) and Akwa Ibom State people in general. He charged the People's Democratic Party in the state to emulate his examplary virtues and legacies. In his resp...