The House began with a Prayer by the Member Representing Isialangwa North State Constituency Hon. Ginger Onwusibe.
The House effected corrections and amendments on the House Proceedings for Tuesday 18th June 2019.
The Leader of the House, Hon. Solomon Akpulonu moved a motion that the House adopts votes and proceedings of the House for Tuesday 18th June 2019 as a working document of the House. The motion was seconded by the Minority Leader Hon. Abraham Oba which the House unanimously adopted.
The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji read a letter from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nominating Hon. Kelechi Onuzurike as the Deputy Majority Whip of the House, also a letter from the All Progressive Grand Alliance nominating Hon. Mike Ukoha as the Minority whip of the House,letter from the All Progressive Congress nominating Hon. Emeka Okoroafor as the Deputy Minority Whip of the House.
The Majority Leader Hon. Solomon Akpulonu moved a motion of Urgent Public Importance for the House to investigate the activities of some agencies of the Abia State Government.
According to him;
“Some of these institutions have up to 20 accounts. For example, Abia State Polytechnic, they have up to 20 accounts that empty into private pockets. Mr Speaker, some of these agencies of Government generate monies but all the funds goes into private accounts.
My Prayers are:
We appoint Adhoc Committees that will investigate these agencies including the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State. They will also investigate and get the number of students, the number of accounts that they operate. Mr Speaker, if we have any sanction, we should as a matter of urgent public importance extend it to them”.
The Deputy Leader of the House, Chief Hon. Paul Taribo Supported the motion raised by the Leader. Thus;
“I rise to support the motion by the Leader, because the matter is very very important. I have discovered that among the management of these agencies of government, management staff are fighting among themselves and what are they fighting? Simply how to embezzle the money that is supposed to be used to run this Institutions”. ” We can no longer continue to fold our hands here thinking that all is well” The Deputy Leader said.
On his part, Hon. Godwin Adiele, Member representing Ukwa West State Constituency said that it was very disheartening that an institution like Abia State Polytechnic cannot pay its salaries, cannot even return any revenue to State government. “I want to say that the Issue is with the Management ”
The Member representing Umuahia South, Hon. Jerry Uzosike while lending support to the motion stated;
“The issue of non payment by the parastatals are becoming leprous”
He suggested that the House in forming the Committees make their duties specific.
The Member representing Isialangwa North, Hon. Ginger Onwusibe aligned with other speakers but said the underlisted establishments were not the only Revenue Generating Agencies that are not meeting up to expectations.
“We need to look at ASEPA, we need to look at ASPIMSS and others so that we won’t be seen as bias in the discharge of our duties. I want to plead that we include other Revenue Generating agencies of Governments that are not meeting up to expectations”. He maintained.
Hon. Emeka Okoroafor, the lawmaker representing Isuikwuato State Constituency in his contribution, said;
“Mr Speaker the problems of these institutions are multidimensional, what are the work strengths of these institutions? Most of these agencies have the thinking that so far there is subventions, they would always survive with that subventions “.
Other Speakers including the Deputy Speaker of the House Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Uchendu urged the House to adopt the prayers in the motion by the Leader of the House.
Commenting further, the Speaker of the House Rt.Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji said the reality is that these institutions realize money but want to be 100% dependent on Government.
Subsequently, the following committees were constituted;
Committee To Investigate the activities of ABSU, Abia State College of Education Technical,Arochukwu (ASCETA)
Rt. Hon. Kennedy Njoku – Chairman
Hon. Taribo Paul – Member
Hon Kelechi Onuzuruike -Member
Emeka Otumchere – Secretary.
Committee To Investigate Abia State Polytechnic
Hon Jerry Uzosike – Chairman
Hon CHIJIOKE Chukwu – Member
Secretary- Pastor Mike UGOCHUKWU.
Commitee To Investigate School Of Health in Aba
Barr Emeka Okoroafor- Chairman.
Hon Stanley Nwabuisi – Member.
Hon Godwin Adiele – Member
Hon Nnamdi Allen- Member
Secretary – Amaka Ukwu-Rocks.
Committee to Investigate Broadcasting Corporation Of Abia State.
Hon Ginger Onwsuibe – Chairman
Hon CHIJIOKE Chukwu- Member
Secretary- Mr Kingsley ALOZIE.
Other members to be made available soon.
“Distinguished Colleagues, these committees are empowered to do the heedful” the Speaker Said.
The Speaker announced Mondays,Tuesday and Wednesday as the House sitting days while Thursdays and Fridays to be used for committee jobs according to a Letter signed on behalf of the Speaker by the Clerk Mr John Pedro Irokansi.
The Clerk of the House Mr. John Pedro Irokansi read the next Item on the Order Paper which was a Bill seeking the Establishment of the Abia State House of Assembly Commission HAB1 2019 sponsored by the Speaker of the House and others.
The Majority Leader moved the Motion while the Minority Leader Hon Abraham seconded the motion.
The Bill subsequently passed through First Reading by the Abia State House of Assembly.
The Leader of the House Hon. Solomon Akpulonu moved a motion of adjournment till tomorrow 3rd July 2019.
The House subsequently adjourned till Wednesday 3rd July 2019 at 10am.
Courtesy: Media Unit( Office of the Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly)
