It is Tuesday, October 8th, 2019.
Welcome to a new 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 into the hallowed chamber of the Abia State House of Assembly.
The Member representing Isiala Ngwa North State Constituency, Hon.
Observations and Adoption of VOTES and PROCEEDINGS of Monday, 30th September, 2019.
The Speaker asked the House members to check Votes and Proceedings of Monday, 30th September, 2019.
“Distinguished Colleagues, you are welcome to today’s plenary session of Tuesday, the 8th Day of October, 2019. Before we proceed, as usual, may we please go through our Votes and Proceedings of Monday 30th September, 2019?
Leader of the House, Hon. Solomon Akpulonu, moved a motion for the adoption of Votes and Proceedings of Monday, 30th September, 2019, as correct and as a working document. The Minority Leader, Hon. Abraham Oba, seconded the motion with the House responding in the affirmative when the Speaker put the motion up for vote.
Composition of Two Committees
House Committee on Information and Publicity:
Rt. Hon Ifeanyi Uchendu – Chairman.
Hon Solomon Akpulonu – Member
Hon Abraham Oba – Member
Secretary – Chris Onwuegbu
House Committee on Public Petition
Hon. Emeka Okoroafor – Chairman
Hon. Jerry Uzosike
Hon. Emmanuel Ndubuisi
Hon. Barr. Okey Igwe
Hon. Aaron Uzodike
Secretary: Bright Nwachukwu.
The Speaker read a Letter about a Governance Programme funded by UK DFID who wants to conduct seminar for the House Members on 22nd and 23rd of October 2019 at Evergreen Hotels, Umuahia.
MATTERS OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE, PERSONAL EXPLANATION
The Member representing Isialangwa North State Constituency, Hon. Ginger Onwusibe, brought a matter of Urgent Public Importance on the incessant harassment of his Constituents by law enforcement agents.
“As you may know, Mr. Speaker, my constituency is an agrarian area. Recently, it has been observed that members of my constituency are beings harassed indiscriminately by security agencies.
“Mr. Speaker, my colleagues, as I speak now, the economic life of my people has come under threat following the harassment of security agencies especially the police.
“For a farmer to transport his produce from his farm to the market, he will encounter policemen who will extort money from them”
“Mr. Speaker, it is the kite that said “Since men have learnt to shoot without missing, it has learnt to fly without perching.
“Just recently, Mr. Speaker, Honourable Colleagues, we know the incident that happened at Obingwa area which snuffed life from Mr. Chimaobi. Two weeks ago, the people in Umuahia South almost burnt down a police station.
PRAYERS
(1) That the House engages leadership of the Police Command in Abia State on this issue
(2) That this House pass a resolution condemning the current siege laid by the Police on our roads, and that the House causes the resolution to be published in, at least, two national dailies, he said.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, thanked the Member for bringing the matter but said the House will refer the Petition to the House Committee on Security Matters for investigation.
The Leader moved that a House Rule be suspended to enable the House attend to more than one Matter of Urgent Public Importance.
The Minority Leader, Hon. Abraham Oba, seconded the motion while the House members responded in the affirmative when the Motion was put up for vote by the Speaker.
The Member Representing Ikwuano Stage Constituency moved his motion thus:
“I bring this matter of Urgent Public Importance on the need for the Abia State Government to undertake repairs on the Umuahia – Ikot Ekpene Road.
“This road has gone so bad.
“I want to also put on record that through the intervention of Hon Sam Onuigbo, this road has been awarded to a Contractor again,but even if the start,I was told that the first phase of this road will be taking from Umuahia Town to Oboro”
“Mr. Speaker, that bad state of this road has led to the death of a pregnant woman and her unborn Child”
“As we speak, there is no road from Ikwuano to Akwa Ibom because this road has been cut off; myself and my constituents no longer have access to the town.
PRAYERS
(1) That we urge the Abia State Government to take a repair of this Road
(2)That we mandate the House Committee in Works and Project monitoring to take a tour of this road and report back to the House.
The Speaker Commenting on the Matter said that Umuahia Ikot Ekpene road is a Federal Government Road, but because of the Lost of Lives, the House members can contribute to the Matter.
The Member Representing Umuahia East State Constituency Hon. Chukwudi Apugo advised that the House of Assembly call on the Federal Lawmakers to help in ensuring that the Road is fixed following the stand of the Minister of Works Babatunde Fashola that the Federal Government will not refund any work done on the Federal.
“I don’t think there is nothing the State Government can do because the road is damaged” he said
The Leader of the House Hon. Solomon Akpulonu Supported the Motion.
“The Road we are talking about is in Abia, let’s agree it is a Federal Road, it may not even cost up to N10million to do a palliative work to help the People of Ikwuano”
“Mr. Speaker, we can urge ABROMA to do a palliative work on that road, it may not cost millions”
The Member Representing Umuahia South State Constituency Hon. Jerry Uzosike supported the motion 100%.
“Mr. Speaker, I support this road 100% and for me, the Statement by the Minister of Work is shocking to be and discouraging”
“Mr. Speaker I support this motion and to encourage the State Government even if it means to use the Local Government to get stones and fill those impassable Areas”
The Speaker thanked the Lawmakers over their Contributions.
“Yes the Road is a Federal Government Road, but it is not the Only Federal Road, Okpara Square to Imo River is a Federal Road, from Post Office to BENDE, Ohafia to Arochukwu, they are all Federal Roads, and am aware that at one time or the other there has been palliative done on those Road”
“But it is very shocking that upon all the palliative works done by the State Government, no money has been refunded”.
The HOUSE RESOLVES.
(1) To Urge the State Government through ABROMA to fix up those bad spots through direct Labours.
(2) Call on the Federal Legislators as a matter of Urgency add more Pressure to ensure that work starts on most of the Federal Roads that cross Abia.
The Member Representing Isialangwa North State Constituency Hon Ginger Onwusibe brought a Personal Explanation over his Victory at the Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri which reaffirmed his election as the duly elected Lawmaker Representing Isialangwa North.
The Speaker Rt. Hon Chinedum Orji thanked the Member for Isiala Ngwa North and said he didn’t pass through hell but merely passed through the rudiments of Politics.
“We are greatful that you have passed through the Courts and not Hell” the Speaker Said.
ORDERS OF THE DAY.
The Clerk of the ABIA State House of Assembly Sir John Pedro Irokansi read the Orders of the Day as Follows.
(1). Notice for the Presentation of Bill.
(A)HAB2 Abia State Equal Opportunities Bill,2019. Sponsored by the Speaker.
The Majority Leader Hon Solomon Akpulonu moved that the Bill undergo its First Reading, the Minority Leader seconded the Motion with the Members Responding in the Affirmative when the Motion was put into Vote.
The Bill Passed its First Reading.
The Clerk Read Next Item on the Order Paper.
(2)The Abia State Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAP) Bill 2019 Sponsored by the Speaker Rt. Hon Chinedum Orji and others.
The Leader Hon Solomon Akpulonu moved that the Bill undergo its First Reading, the Minority Leader seconded the Bill with the House Responding in the Affirmative when the Speaker put the Motion into Vote.
The Clerk Read the Next Item on the Order Paper.
(A) Motion on the Need to Reposition the Abia State Road Maintenance Agency (ABROMA) for a effective delivery Sponsored by the Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Uchendu.
The Speaker put the Motion into Vote for the House to study the Motion and contribute in another Legislative Day.
The Clerk Read the Next Item on the Order Paper.
Confirmation of Remaining Commissioner Nominees.
The Speaker recalled that the House had screened two Commissioner Nominees Prof. Ikechi Mgbeoji and Mr. Bob Ogu.
The House Subsequently Confirmed the Two Commissioner Nominees.
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