The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, has reinstated the suspended Chairman of Abak Local Government Area, Hon. Barr. Imoh Williams.
Recall that the House at Plenary on Thursday, July 25, 2019, suspended the Chairman from office, after it received a Matter of Urgent Public Importance of an alleged assault in meted out on one Mr. Godwin Abraham, on the orders of the Council Chairman.
The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey, accordingly,
referred the matter to the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, to look into it and report back to the House in one month.
Presenting the report to the House,
at Plenary on Tuesday, Chairman of the Committee, Rt. Hon. Mark Esset, told the House that the suspended Chairman had since tendered an apology to the victim and the entire state on the unfortunate incident, stating that the assailant, Mr Uduakobong Samekpo, has learnt a bitter lesson and will never repeat such gruesome act in the future.
Esset stated that Hon. Imoh williams did not authorize Mr Uduakobong Samekpo to beat up Mr. Godwin Abraham, but rather showed disapproval by sacking Mr Samekpo as his Aide.
Accordingly, the House after adopting the report and recommendations of the Committee, resolved that the suspended Abak Local Government Chairman, Hon. Imoh Williams be reinstated, as no case of abuse was established.
The House also urged Hon. Imoh Williams, to ensure that he screens and trains his Aides against overzealousness and brazen acts of impunity.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey, further directed the Clerk of the House, Mrs Mandu Umoren, to communicate the resolution of the House to the appropriate authorities.
Also at Plenary, a Bill for a Law to upgrade the Akwa Ibom State School of Health Technology to a College of Health Technology, has scaled through second reading at the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.
Leading the debate, Rt. Hon. (Barr.) Aniefiok Denis, stated that the Bill, when passed into law and subsequently assented to by the Governor, will enable the Institution to assess grants from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, for improved infrastructure.
On his part, Rt. Hon Mark Esset said the Bill will ensure the training of health personnel that will man the various health facilities built by Governor Udom Emmanuel and said the 7th Assembly will be remembered for good, when the Bill is passed into law.
Similarly, the member representing Ikot Abasi State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Uduak Odudo, stressed that that the school, when changed from the current status to a College of Health Technology, will gain recognition from the National Board for Technical Education (NABTE).
The proposed Bill also got the support of the members representing Nsit Ubium, Uyo, Ini, Ibiono Ibom, Etim Ekpo, Oron/Udung Uko, Eket, Esit Eket/Ibeno State, Okobo and Abak Constituencies, Rt. Hon. Otobong Bob, Rt. Hon. Anietie Eka and Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Ekpenyong, Hon. Godwin Ekpo, Hon. Mfon Idung, Rt. Hon. Effiong Bassey, Rt. Hon. David Lawrence, Rt. Hon. Usoro Akpanusoh, Rt. Hon. Felisha Bassey and Hon. Udeme Otong respectively, who said the Bill ensure professionalism in the health sector and urged the House to give it the necessary legislative backing to be passed into law.
Meanwhile, the House has adjourned its plenary to reconvene on Thursday, 19 September, 2019.
Press Unit,
Office of the Speaker,
Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.
September 17, 2019.
