It is Monday 8th July, 2019.
Welcome to another Legislative Day at the Abia State House of Assembly.
The Sergeant-At-Arms ushered the Speaker Rt.Hon.Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, the Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon IFEANYI Uchendu and other Principal officers to the hallowed Chambers of the Abia State House of Assembly.
The Member Representing Obingwa West, Hon A.C Thomas Nkoro, prayed before the commencement of the House sitting at Exactly 12:18pm.
Observations and Adoption of VOTES and PROCEEDINGS of Wednesday 3rd July, 2019.
The Speaker asked the House members to check Votes and Proceedings of Wednesday, 3rd July, 2019.
“Distinguished Colleagues, you are welcome to today’s Plenary Session this 8th Day of July, 2019. Before we proceed, it is expedient that we go through the Votes and Proceedings of 3rd July.
The Member representing Osisioma Ngwa North, Rt Hon Kennedy Njoku, urged the clerks on the Table to effect corrections on Page one, Paragraph one, where full name of his Constituency was not properly written.
The Member representing Ukwa East, Hon Godwin Adiele, said his name was omitted to which clerks on the Table took record of.
In the Absence of further corrections, the Speaker urged the Majority Leader to move his Motion:
“In the absence of any further corrections, Leader, your Motion,” he said.
The Leader, Hon Solomon Akpulonu, moved a Motion that the Votes and Proceedings of Wednesday, 3rd July, be accepted as a Working Document of the House, a Motion the Minority Leader, Hon. Abraham Oba, Seconded and the Speaker put it into Vote with the House responding in the affirmative.
Sequel to the Setting up of an adhoc committee to look into the subventing parastatals last week, the Speaker, Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, announced the setting up of other Committees to Investigate other Agencies of Government that were not captured the last time.
“We want to make it perfectly clear here that this House is not on any witch hunt”, the Speaker declared.
Continuing, he said, “The House Investigation is with a view to unlocking how some of the funds or most of them are being utilized. Having said that, this House hereby compose the Following Committees:
COMPOSITION OF COMMITEES
Committee to Invevstigate ABSUTH Aba:
Hon Abraham Oba – Chairman
Hon Emmanuel Ndubuisi – Member
Hon CHIJIOKE Chukwu – Member
Hon Obinna Ichita- Member
Clerk to assign a Secretary to the Committee.
Committee To Investigate Hospital Management Board:
Hon Uzodike Aaron – Chairman.
Hon Ukoha Mike – Member
Hon Obinna Ichita – Member
Clerk to assign Secretary to the Committee.
INVITATION to All Heads of Administration and Heads of Education Authority of the 17 Local Government Areas of Abia State.
The Speaker announced an Invitation extended to the aforementioned Heads in the 17 Local Govt Areas of the State.
“All Heads of Adminstration and Heads of Account of Education Authority of the 17 Local Government Areas of Abia State are to appear before the Executive Session of the House on Tuesday, 9th of July, at 9am”.
They are to come along with:
All Financial Documents
All Payments made in the Last 8 Months.
MATTERS OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE.
The Speaker, Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, inquired of any Matter of Urgent Public Importance.
The Member for Arochukwu State Constituency, Hon Mike Ukoha, Raised a Matter of Urgent Public Importance over the Loss of Lives in the boundary skirmishes between Isu Clan in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State and their neighbors from Cross River State.
“Mr Speaker, Hon Members, my name is Hon. Mike Ukoha Representing Arochukwu State Constituency. Mr Speaker, over the weekend I had the opportunity of visiting my Constituency. I was sad over the story that came out from there.
“The Isu Community in my Constituency has been under severe attack by people from neighboring Cross River State. As at the last skirmish, we lost 40 of our people to the crisis.
Speaking Further, Hon Ukoha said,
“It is also glaring that the Police Post there is no longer functional, so these people encroach there to attack my people.
“I want to express my appreciation to Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu for his assistance to the People of Isu Clan so far”
PRAYERS.
(A) That the Government, as a matter of urgency, come to the aid of the people by providing food and shelter to the people.
(B) Secondly, I am making a Passionate appeal that the Police post that used to be there be re-established.
(C) Thirdly, I will like this House to invite the National Boundary Commission to know their level of intervention so far.
(D) I am asking Mr. Speaker to see if we can access the State Emergency Agency’s assistance.
The Speaker in his Response said,
“The Matter before us borders on insecurity between the Isu Clan and their neighbors from a village in Cross River State.
“Because of the number of lives mentioned here as lost in the crisis, it becomes very compelling that Honorable Members make their input to enable us come out with a Resolution”, the Speaker concluded.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MOTION.
The Member representing Umunneochi, Hon Barr. Okey Igwe, in his support to the Motion said,
“Mr Speaker, before I give my support to the Prayers, I would like to highlight a couple of points. The Motion borders on security, it also touches agriculture and Inter-Boundary matters between Abia and Cross River State.
“It seems to me that the National Boundary Commission is urgently needed here; we really need to get their attention.
“It behooves on this Honourable House to send a message, maybe through the office of the Deputy Governor, to the Commission for their urgent action.
“I hereby wish to wholeheartedly support the prayers by the Honourable Member representing Arochukwu that you grant his Motion”.
The Member representing Bende South, Hon.Emmanuel Ndubuisi, also in his support for the Motion called on the House to intervene urgently so that the National Boundary Commission will live up to its statutory responsibilities.
“Mr Speaker, it is very depressing and devastating to live in a war torn zone.
“Mr Speaker, I wish to support this Motion and call on necessary authorities to do the needful”.
Member representing Isialangwa North, Hon Ginger Onwusibe, in his support to the Motion, urged the House to observe a minute silence for the victims of the Boundary Crises in Isu Clan.
“Mr Speaker, as you just said, we have a similar Motion already in existence in this House, I want to support this Motion but first of all, I want to crave the Indulgence of this House to observe a moment of silence for our own, about 40 of whom have died in this crisis.
“Mr Speaker, permit me to also support the Motion that we call on the Commissioner Of Police to Restore the Police Post that was there so that Peace would be sustained in that area.
“I will also suggest that this same matter be sent to the previous committee on the Lokpanta Quarry site.
The Member representing Aba North State Constituency, Hon Uzodike Aaron, in his support to the Motion urged the House to take a step in stopping further loss of lives in that Area.
“Mr Speaker and Honourable colleagues, this has been a recurrence in that area, considering the number of lives that has been lost in that area, I would like this House to look into how to stop this from reoccurring.
“I want to suggest, Sir, that the Army, and not only the Police, be also stationed there to maintain Peace.
“I want to also suggest that the National Boundary Commission be brought in this matter. Based on these, I support the Motion as moved, he concluded.
The Speaker in turn led the House in observing a minute silence for the departed.
Speaking further, the Speaker appealed to the Emergency Management agencies both at the State and Federal levels to assist the people of Isu.
Fellow Colleagues, here are our Resolutions on this matter:
“That we are appealing to both the State Emergency Management Agency and its Federal counterpart to, as a matter of urgency, come to the aid of the people of Isu Clan.
“That this House sends invitation to National Boundary Commission
“That Security Agencies in the State beef up Security in Isu Clan for the purpose of averting an further skirmishes”.
The Speaker mandated the previous Committee set up by the House on the Lokpanta Quarry Site to also look into the security breach in Isu Clan.
Item on the Order Paper.
The Clerk of the House, Sir John Pedro Irokansi, read out Item Number One on the Order Paper which is HAB1 2019.
HAB1 2019, a bill seeking the Establishment of the Abia State House of Assembly Service Commission scheduled for Second Reading
The Majority Leader Moved that the House take the Reading of the Bill, the Minority Leader seconded the Motion which the Speaker put to Voice Votes.
The House Responded in the sffirmative.
Continuing, the Speaker said, Honourable Colleagues, having been saddled with the responsibility of leading this debate, I want to appreciate the President on his quest to grant autonomy to State Houses of Assembly.
“The Bill has numerous merits that will be of immense benefit to S
staff and Members of the Abia State House of Assembly.
“The Bill seeks to formalize the Financial Autonomy of the State House of Assembly.
“It will make the members to be Independent rather than being dependent on the Executive”
“Honourable Colleagues, I urge you all to give accelerated support to this Bill”, the Speaker Stated.
The House Leader, Hon Solomon Akpulonu, in his support to the Motion, appreciated other Houses of Assembly in other States for having passed the Bill in their respective States.
“Mr Speaker, this Bill is not a new one; this Bill was almost Passed in the last House except for few differences. Mr Speaker, we thank the Houses of Assembly that Supported and passed the Financial Bill into Law because if the Houses did not support the autonomy, It would not have been passed by the National Assembly.
“I am asking our Members to support this Bill because it is going to give autonomy and job security to Staff of this House of Assembly.
“Mr Speaker, if it is Possible, we may go into the next stage of this Bill. I am urging our Members to Support this Bill so that we go into the next stage”.
The Member for Ukwa East, Hon Paul Taribo, in his Support, urged his colleagues to give the Bill Accelerated hearing.
“Mr Speaker, this HAB1, like the Leader has said, we have almost done all that is required if not for some areas that needed further input. I urge that the Bill be given accelerated hearing. On that note, I will encourage that we move to the next stage.
Member representing Osisioma Ngwa North, Rt Hon Kennedy Njoku, urged the House to pass the Bill without delay.
“Mr Speaker, I want to align myself with other speakers, if there is a way we can even Pass this Bill immediately, then we have to because it is very important”.
Member representing Umuahia South, Hon.Barr Jerry Uzosike, said since the Bill is already an Act of the National Assembly, there is a urgent need for the House to Pass it into Law.
“I support everything said about this Bill. This Bill, Mr Speaker, tends to keep Abia State ready to domesticate something that is already a Law; it is already an Act of the National Assembly. I want to thank the 6th House for having the 2/3rd Required to pass this Bill.
“I will encourage my colleagues to do whatever is necessary to give it speedy adoption. We cannot decide to keep this Bill on hold any further. It is already a constitutionally amended Bill. All that is left is just for it to be gazetted.
“I support the Motion by saying that let us finish this Bill before proceeding for our annual break”.
Member representing Umunneochi State Constituency, Hon Barr.Okey Igwe, urged the House to wholeheartedly support the Bill .
“Mr Speaker, I am compelled to lend my support to this Bill. I want to align myself to the sentiments raised by the Member representing Osisioma Ngwa North, that we should consolidate every procedure and get this done.”
The Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon Ifeanyi Uchendu, in his support for the Bill, urged the House to support it because of its importance.
“I rise to add my support to the Bill under consideration; passage of the Bill will improve the working of this House. Mr Speaker, considering the importance of this Bill, let’s give it the necessary attention”.
BILL COMMITTED TO THE COMMITE OF THE WHOLE.
The Speaker said “With the kind permission of this Honourable House, and having listened to the members’ intelligent speeches, I think we have to commit this Bill into the Committee of the Whole.
“We hereby Commit the Bill to the Committee of the Whole for further Legislative Action” the Speaker concluded.
Next Item on the Order.(Adjournment)
The Clerk of the House, Sir John Pedro Irokansi, read the next Item on the Order Paper.
“Mr Speaker, the next Item on the Order Paper is ADJOURNMENT” he said.
The Leader, Hon Solomon Akpulonu, moved a Motion for Adjournment while the Minority Leader, Hon Abraham Oba, seconded the Motion.
“Mr Speaker, I hereby move that we adjourn today’s Plenary to Tuesday, 9th of July, 2019”.
The Speaker of the House, Rt.Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, put the Motion into Voice Vote while the House echoed in the affirmative.
The Abia State House subsequently adjourned to Tuesday 9th of July 2019.
Courtesy: Media Unit, Office of the Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly.
