Welcome to another Legislative Day in the 7th Abia State House of Assembly.
The Speaker, Rt Hon Engr Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji led Principal Officers into the hallowed chamber.
Hon Emeka Okoroafor, Member representing Isuikwuato State Constituency led the opening prayer.
The Abia State House of Assembly commenced plenary after the adoption of Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday, 16th November, 2021.
CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE GOVERNOR
The Speaker read out a letter from the Governor seeking for the House’s consideration and passage of the 2021 Supplementary Provision estimated at the sum of N18,925,403,929 (Eighteen Billion, Nine Hundred and Twenty Five Million, Four Hundred and Three Thousand, Nine Hundred and Twenty Nine Naira Only).
The Speaker also read out a letter from the Governor seeking for the House’s consideration and legislative action on the newly reconstituted Judicial Service Commission.
Nominated members of the Judicial Commission include:
1. Barr Henry Balogu
2. Mr Anagho Kalu
3. Mr Clement Ugorji
4. Mrs Joy Nwakanma
5. Greg Chikezie Esq – Secretary-Nominee to the Judicial Commission
ANNOUNCEMENT
The Speaker, Rt Hon Engr Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji also read out a letter from the Deputy Governor, Rt Hon Ude Oko Chukwu inviting the House of Assembly Members to the Grand Civic Reception in his Honour by the Traditiinal Rulers of Ohafia Local Government Area Council slated for Saturday, 4th December, 2021, by 11am at Chief K.K. Owen Pavilion, Ohafia Local Government Area Headquarters, Ebem Ohafia.
NOTICE OF PRESENTATION OF BILL
H.A.B. 48: The Archbishop Charles Heerey Memorial College of Nursing, Ogbor Hill, Aba.
A Bill for a Law to Establish Archbishop Charles Heerey Memorial College of Nursing, Ogbor Hill, Aba.
Accordingly, after passing through legislative processes and in a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Hon Solomon Akpulonu and seconded by the Minority Leader, Hon Chijioke Chukwu, the Bill, H.A.B. 48, passed First Reading.
ORDER OF THE DAY
NOTICE OF MOTION
H.A.M. 17: Motion for the Immediate Implementation of Section 126 (2) of the Abia State Local Government Law (Amendment No.4) 2015 by the Local Government Chairmen to Enhance Welfare of Traditional Rulers.
Hon Barr Emeka Okoroafor, Member representing Isuikwuato State Constituency is sponsor of the Motion for the implementation of Section 126 of Abia State Local Government Law (No.2) of 2006 which provides for the establishment of a Traditional Rulers Council in every Local Government Area of Abia State.
He said Section 126 (2) of Abia State Local Government Law (Amendment No. 4) of 2015 provides for the deduction of five per cent (5%) from each Local Government Council’s Allocation to be given to the Traditional Council of each Local Government for effective operation and discharge of their responsibilities.
“The welfare and the security of the people are the primary responsibilities of every government including the Local Government authorities. Security challenges of kidnapping, banditry and farmers-herders conflicts in our various Local Governments and communities are on the increase.
“The issue of security as an emerging rule is a shared responsibility between the Traditional Institution, Community Vigilante groups and the Conventional Security Agencies”, Hon Okoroafor explained.
He further said that the 5% provided for in the aforementioned Local Government Law is for the effective discharge of this shared responsibility by the Traditional Rulers as Chief Security Officers of their communities among other things.
Concluding, he said it appeared that the Traditional Rulers had failed in the discharge of this important responsibility because of paucity of funds, traceable to failure of the Local Government authorities to release the said statutory 5% to the Traditional Rulers Council which is a flagrant disobedience and infraction of a valid Law and this infraction and non-implementation of provisions of the said Law had greatly sustained the unending security challenges and constituted a clog in the efforts of the Traditional Rulers and that of the State Government to rid the State of all forms of criminality.
PRAYERS
1. That the House do mandate the Chairmen of the Local Governments in the State to implement the provisions of Section 126 (2) of the Abia State Local Government (Amendment No.4 ) Law 2015 to ensure that the said statutory 5% deducted from each Local Government’s Allocation is regularly released to the Traditional Rulers Council in every Local Government to enable them discharge their responsibilities creditably as well as effectively fight crimes in various autonomous communities.
2. That the Local Government Chairmen and Commissioner for Local Government & Chieftaincy Affairs in the State be invited to interface with the House with a view to ensuring the implementation of the said Section 126 (2) of the Local Government (Amendment No 4 ) Law of 2015.
RESOLUTION
After contributions from Hon Chukwu Chijioke, Hon Jerry Uzosike, Hon Paul Taribo, Rt Hon Kennedy Njoku, Hon Mike Onyekwere Ukoha, Hon Aaron Uzodike and Hon Godwin Adiele, the Speaker said of particular interest you him was the non implementation of a Law passed by the Assembly.
He therefore asked the Clerk to invite Hon Ibe Nwoke, the Abia State Chairman of Association of Local Government of Nigeria to appear before the Honourable Members in their Executive session tomorrow to explain to the House why a Law passed by the House and assented to by the Governor is not being implemented.
The House also resolved and mandated the Executive Chairmen of Local Government Areas in the State to subsequently make necessary deductions during their JAAC for the purposes of giving the Traditional Rulers their constitutional percentage so they can help tackle insecurity in their areas.
Finally, the Speaker said the House approves all the resolutions contained in the motion moved by Hon Emeka Okoroafor.
H.A.B 46 : The Abia State Education for Employment Agency.
A Bill for a Law to Establish the Abia State Education for Employment sponsored by Hon Solomon Akpulonu, the Majority Leader.
The Sponsor of the Bill, Hon Solomon Akpulonu explained to the House the importance of the Bill. He said Abians especially the youths have a lot to gain if the Bill was passed into Law.
After contributions from Members, the Speaker said the basics and details of the Bill was not clarified enough by the sponsor. He therefore subjected the Bill to Public Hearing on a later date so the House would understand the nitty-gritty of the Bill.
The Speaker also referred the Bill to the Joint House Committee on Education, Public Accounts and Appropriation for further Legislative drills.
Other items on the Order Paper was deferred to be considered on another Legislative Day.
ADJOURNMENT
Hon Solomon Akpulonu, Majority Leader of the House, moved that plenary be adjourned to another Legislative Day.
The Minority Leader, Hon Chijioke Chukwu seconded the motion.
Plenary was therefore adjourned to Wednesday, 1st December, 2021.
Courtesy: Media Unit, Office of the Rt Hon Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly.
