Abia State House of Assembly Plenary for Monday, 29th June, 2020

The House commenced Plenary after the adoption of the Votes and Proceedings of Monday, 27th May, 2020.

Today, Monday, June 29, 2020 is the First Sitting in the Second Session of the 7th Abia State House of Assembly Presided over by the Speaker of the House Rt.Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji.

MATTER OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE.

Hon Emeka Okoroafor , the Member Representing Isiukwuato State Constituency, brought a Matter of Urgent Public Importance on the Administration of Local Government in Nigeria.

“Mr Speaker, you will agree with me that the Law on Administration of Local Government in Abia State allows for the appointment of Transition Committee Chairmen for a period of six months.

“The current set of TC Chairmen were appointed on the 18th Day of December, 2019 and by that law, their administration expired on the 17th Day of June, 2020.

PRAYERS:

I hereby Pray as Follows

(1) That the House do resolve that at the moment and in Law, there is no Transition Committee Chairmen in Abia State.

(2) That any act as from 17th June, 2020, from the Local Government Chairmen amounts to illegality.

(3)That the Executive dissolve the Transition Committees of all the 17 Local Government Areas in Abia State”.

The Speaker put the Matter up for deliberation.

The Member Representing Osisioma Ngwa North State Constituency Rt Hon. Kennedy Njoku in his submission said with the provision of the Law in Abia State, it means that any other act by the Transition Committee Chairmen amounts to illegality.

The Member representing Ukwa West, Hon Godwin Adiele on his part said the position of the law was very clear.

“Our Dear Governor is still recovering from illness and if we continue in this manner, some things might go wrong. I stand that we call the attention of the Executive – I think this Honourable House will not be here and the Executive is allowed to operate on illegality,” he said.

The Member representing Bende North, Hon Chukwu Chijioke in his own submission said he totally aligned himself with the author of the Matter, Hon Emeka Okoroafor, in the presentation of the issue.

“I think it is wrong for anybody in Abia today to parade himself as Transition Committee Chairman; I think it is necessary and wise to bring the attention of the Executive that they are in breach of the law passed by this Honourable House.

“Any action, document signed as from the date their tenure expired amounts to illegality,” he said.

The Member representing Umuahia South State Constituency, Hon Jerry Uzosike, while contributing to the Matter quoted the laws backing the Matter brought by Hon Emeka Okoroafor.

Laws of Abia State of Nigeria 2005, Cap 21, Section Five:

“The Committee shall perform the functions of the Executive for six months subject to the ratification of the Abia State House of Assembly”.

He said any further action by the Chairmen amounts to illegality.

Hon Thomas Nkoro the Member representing Obingwa West State Constituency in his speech said Transition Committes constitute aberration to democracy.

“I agree with the earlier speakers that the Executive should be informed that the tenure of these Chairmen has since come to an end,” he said.

The Speaker, Rt.Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, in his summary noted all the submissions by the Honourable Members.

RESOLUTION:

(1) That the House hereby brings to the attention of the Executive Arm of Government the expiration of six months tenure of the current Transition Committee Chairmen, their Deputies and other Members of the Committees since the 17th of June, 2020, as stated by Law.

(2) That the House do ask the Executive Arm of Government to do the needful on the Matter

NOTICE OF PRESENTATION OF BILL.

(1) HAB 19: The Abia State Physical Planning and Infrastructural Development Fund (Amendment No.4) Bill, 2020.

A Bill for a Law to further amend the Abia State Development Fund Law No 8 of 2010 Sponsored by the Majority Leader Hon. Solomon Akpulonu.

The House passed the Bill For First Reading following a Motion by the Leader, Seconded by the Minority Leader with Affirmation by Honourable Members.

(2) HAB 20: The Abia State Board of Internal Revenue (Amendment No .3) Bill, 2020.

A Bill for a Law to Amend the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue Law No.2 of 2016 and for other Matters Incidental thereto, sponsored by the Majority Leader, Hon Barr.Solomon Akpulonu.

The House passed the Bill for First Reading following a Motion by the Majority Leader, Hon Barr Solomon Akpulonu, seconded by the Minority Leader, Hon Abraham Oba, with the Affirmation by Lawmakers.

ADJOURNMENT

With the Motion of the Majority Leader, the Abia State House of Assembly adjourned Plenary to resume on Tuesday, June 30, 2020.

Courtesy: Media Unit, Office of the Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly.