Akwa Ibom Assembly Update

 Williams Akpabio - Information Unit (AKHA), Uyo The 7th Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly today passed the anti-open grazing bill brought before it into law. The bill which is 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. The  passage of the Bill followed the consideration of the report of its joint committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources, Housing and Urban Renewal as presented by its Chairman Hon. Asuquo Nana Udo and member representing Ikono State Constituency at the floor of the chamber; and on the unanimous voice vote, the bill scaled through third reading and was passed to Law. It could be recalled that Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly through its joint Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources, Housing and Urban Renewal Monday 13th September, 2021 holds Public hearing on this Bill. According to the report...

  Williams Akpabio - Information Unit (AKHA), Uyo Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly at it's tuesday's plenary received  "A Bill for a law to make supplementary provision for the service of Akwa Ibom State Government for the year ending on 31st December, 2021" from the state government for consideration and approval. This Bill according to the House Leader Rt. Hon. Udo Kieran and member representing Oruk Anam State Constituency, while presenting the Bill at the floor of the house said the supplementary estimates were based on inflation, exchange rate and other financial accidentals. He also noted that natural disasters occurred in the past few months, were not captured in the budget, but require urgent government intervention. The supplementary estimates is expected to cater for Agriculture, Special Duties (Airport), Economic Development and Ibom Deep Seaport, Works, Transport and Fire service etc. The Bill gave a proposition of  136,504,539,000 ( Recurrent Estimates 3...

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...

Williams Akpabio - Information Unit AKHA, Uyo Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly today holds public hearing on a Bill to establish Akwa Ibom State Health Insurance Agency and for Other Matters Connected Thereto and Akwa Ibom State Anti-Stigma  and Discrimination of Persons Living with HIV/AIDS, 2020 organized by House Committee on Health.   The Hon. Speaker of the 7th Assembly Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey ably represented by Rt. Hon. David Lawrence member representing Abak State Constituency declared the public hearing opened.     The Chairman of the Health Committee Hon. Udeme Otong, member representing Abak State Constituency in his opening speech make known that the Bill to Establish Akwa Ibom State Health Insurance Agency will ensure the availability of funds to the health sector and ensure equitable distribution of health Care cost through raising and pooling of funds to finance health services. Moreso, the Bill will further provide financial risk protection for citiz...

Williams Akpabio - (Information Unit) AKHA, Uyo Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly yesterday in it's plenary passed a resolution mandating the State Ministry of Justice to collaborate with the State Law Reform Commission to immediately commence an examination of the laws of Akwa Ibom State with a view to identifying laws of Akwa Ibom State which are no longer in tune with contemporary realities and submit it findings to the house within one month Similarly, the house urges the Executive arm of government to work with the house of Assembly to ensure that the obsolete laws are expunged the obsolete laws are expunged from the legal syatem. This follows a motion moved by Hon. Esse Gerald Umoh Member representing Essien Udim State Constituency on the urgent need to revise and repeal obsolete laws of the State. These laws include: 1. Akwa Ibom State Auctioneers Law of 21st June, 1917 2. Akwa Ibom State Agriculture Law of 1957 3. Akwa Ibom State Change of Title Law of 1st April,1930 4. Akw...

Williams Akpabio - Information Unit (AKHA), Uyo Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has today removes the embattled Oruk Anam Local Government Council Vice Chairman Hon. Abasiama Etokakpan from office. His removal based on the report of the Ad-hoc Committee on the impeachment of Abasiama Etokakpan as Vice Chairman of Oruk Anam Local Government Council as presented at the floor of the house. Adopting the report of the ad-hoc Committee as presented by the Committee chairman Hon. (Barr.) Aniefiok Dennis, the Deputy House Leader and member representing Etinan State Constituency, the house resolved that Abasiama Etokakpan Stand removed as the Vice Chairman of Oruk Anam Local Government Council. Recalled that the 7th Akwa Ibom Assembly on it's 9th sitting of the 3rd  session on Thursday 12th August, 2021 on receipt of "impeachment notice' after his earlier reinstatement on Tuesday 3rd August, 2021 by the 7th Assembly and in compliance with Section 44(7&8) of Local Government A...

The 7-Man Panel set up by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly to investigate the impeachment process initiated by the Oruk Anam Legislative Council commenced hearing on Thursday. The Panel, during its maiden hearing at the Conference Room of the Assembly, acknowledged receipt of petitions and impeachment notice on Mr. Abasiama Etukakpan by the Leader of Oruk Anam Legislative Council, Hon. Sunday Festus. Speaking, Chairman of the Panel and Deputy Leader of the House, Barrister Aniefiok Dennis Akpan, thanked Chairman of Oruk Anam Local Government Council, Mr. Kingsley Frank, and members of the Legislative Council for adhering to the invitation and assured that the Panel will be fair and just to all. Barrister Akpan further inform that the House of Assembly will not hesitate to impose restrictive measures on Oruk Anam Local Government Council, or any other Local Government Council, if the Councillors are not orderly in their conducts and activities.  “Let me warn, we will not be sit...