Akwa Ibom Assembly Update

 ... passed Akwa Ibom State Administration of Criminal Justice Bill 2020 into Law. ... adopts Report of the Public Account Committee on the Audited Account of the 31 Local Government Council Williams Akpabio - Information Unit (AKHA), Uyo. Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly in its plenary Tuesday passed Akwa Ibom State Administration of Criminal Justice Bill 2020 into Law.  This follows the adoption of Report of the committee on Judiciary, Justice, Human Right and Public Petition  as presented by its Chairman Hon. Barr. Victor Ekwere, member representing Mkpat Enin State Constituency at the floor of the House. According to the report, the law will  introduce novel and innovative approaches to criminal justice administration such as plea bargain, licensed bonds person, process service agents, suspended sentence, non-custodial orders, suspended Community service etc. It will also ensure that the criminal justice administration in Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria is, as much a...

Williams Akpabio - Information Unit AKHA, Uyo The 7th Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly in its plenary today Tuesday gave accelerated hearing to "A  Bill for a Law to Prohibit Open Rearing and Grazing of Livestock and Provide for the Establishment of Ranches and Livestock Administration, Regulation and Control and for Other Matters Connected therewith" This very important executive Bill went through first and second reading today and was committed to House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Lands, Housing and Urban Renewal for indepth study and for other legislative processes,  According to the sponsor of the Bill,  Rt. Hon. (Sir) Udo Kieran, House Leader and member representing Oruk Anam State Constituency, open grazing Bill if passed to Law will henceforth curb the menace of Farmer/ Cattle Rearers (Herdsmen) as well as prevent the destruction of farms, crops, ponds caused by open rearing and grazing of Livestock. The Bill is also expected to promote mod...

Akwa Ibom State  House of Assembly has ratified a report of the Auditor General on the arrears of two years of  accounts of the 31 Local Government Councils in the state. The audited accounts which were from January - December, 2015 and January- December, 2016 were considered by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly during its plenary, Tuesday. The report was submitted by the House Committee on Public Accounts chaired by Hon. Charity Ido of Ukanafun State Constituency. Presenting the report, the Chairman said the Committee examined various reports  which contained unresolved audit  queries across the 31 Local Government Councils. According to Dr. Charity Ido, issues observed while carrying out the review of the two years arrears of Local Government Councils' Audit Report included weakness in Internal Control System, unretired advances running into millions of Naria, unremitted deposits due to third party, non- adoption of International Public Sector Accounting Standa...

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has ratified the Covid 19 budget report of the State Government for last quarter ending December 2020 as presented by the Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts, Hon Charity Ido, member representing Ukanafun State Constituency. The House which dissolved into a Committee of the Whole to discuss the Covid 19 Report, came out with the following recommendations: That the State Government should seek support from the Federal Government and other relevant agencies to make it a matter of priority to support Covid 19 budgets since it is a global phenomenon. The House asked the Auditor General should ensure accountability, transparency and probity in the management of funds allocated for Covid 19 Budget execution and that the affected Ministries, Departments and Agencies should expedite action in retirement of funds allocated to them within the approved period.  It also recommended that Ministries, Departments and Agencies that are unable to provi...

'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 -AKHA, Uyo  A Bill for a law to Establish Office of the Public Defender, Akwa Ibom State, has yesterday passes Second reading and forwarded to House Committee on Justice, Human Right and Public Petitions for in-depth study and report back to the House in one month. It could be recalled that this Bill sponsored by Hon. (Barr.) Otobong Bob, member representing Nsit Ubium State Constituency and 15 others scaled through first reading at the floor of the House Tuesday 12th January, 2021. According to the sponsors during debate at the plenary, the Bill if passed to law shall be for indigent residents of Akwa Ibom State particularly, women, widows, children, student, unemployed persons, physically challenged persons, retirees above the age of sixty years, and anyone earning below the current minimum wage approved by government, irrespective of tribe, race, religion, or ethical affiliation. This Bill shall amongst other things, have responsibility for the provision ...

Williams Akpabio - AKHA(Aide), Uyo Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly on Thursday passed into law A Bill for a law for Establishment and Administration of the Customary Court in Akwa Ibom State and for matters connected therewith. The of this Bill follows the adoption of the report presented by the Chairman House Committee on Judiciary, Justice, Human Rights and public petitions Hon. (Barr.) Victor Patrick Ekwere representing  Mkpat Enin State Constituency to the House on 22nd December, 2020.  It could be recalled that the House at her sitting on Tuesday, 18th Feb 2020, this Bill was read the second time and committed to the House Committee on Judiciary, Justice, Human Rights and public petitions for scrutiny. This bill which is primarily among others to enable legal practitioners to administer the Court and deploy their expertise in settlement of disputes, interpretation and application of the Rule of Law to the customs and traditions of our local community and make the State ...