Abia State House of Assembly Plenary for Monday, 22nd February, 2021.

Rt Hon Ifeanyi Uchendu, Deputy Speaker of the House and Member representing Ohafia South State Constituency said the opening prayer.

The Abia State House of Assembly commenced plenary after the adoption of Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday, 2nd February, 2021, as a working document of the House.

MATTER OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE

The Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon Ifeanyi Uchendu brought up a matter of urgent public importance about devastating gully erosion sites in Ohafia South State Constituency and the non inclusion of same in the priority list of Abia NEWMAP. He said the agency, Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project, a World Bank assisted State-led agency whose primary responsibility is to respond to the challenges of gully erosions, emerging land degradation and other environmental challenges have not executed a single remediation work in Ohafia South State Constituency, despite the number of active gully erosions ravaging many communities in the area.

Rt Hon Uchendu said the erosion sites pose devastating threats to many lives, properties and essential infrastructure. He further informed that gullies have developed along the corridors of Amaekpu-Elu Onyirinmba Road, Elu-Ebem Court Road, Baksassi in Amaekpu, Water Works Road, Elu and Ndi Uduma Awoke.

He prayed the House to mandate the leadership of Abia NEWMAP and the Technical Committee to visit the erosion sites for an on the spot assessment and subsequent inclusion of same in the priority list for urgent action.

RESOLUTION

After contributions from Members, the Speaker, Rt Hon Engr Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji said he would align himself wholly to the prayers made by the Deputy Speaker. He urged the Executive Arm of Government to direct the leadership and technical unit of Abia NEWMAP to visit the affected areas for an on the spot assessment and to offer immediate remedial solutions to prevent loss of lives and property.

PERSONAL EXPLANATION

The Member representing Osisioma Ngwa North State Constituency, Rt Hon Kennedy Njoku, in his Personal Explanation said he wished to convey his happiness and that of his constituents to the Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu over the number and quality of roads both completed and ongoing in different parts of the State. He announced that the Governor out of his magnanimity and in fulfillment of his campaign promises to Osisioma Ngwa State Constituency constructed the Osokwa-Aso Umuejie-Omoba Road which was commissioned few days ago. He thanked the Governor and prayed that God will keep and sustain him as he does more for Abians.

On his part, Hon Kelechi Onuzuruike, Member representing Umuahia North State Constituency, in his Personal Explanation said he celebrated his birthday on the 19th of February and thanked God for adding a year to him. He said he was overwhelmed with the outpour of love shown him on that day by the Speaker, his fellow Honorable Members and his Constituents.

Responding, the Speaker said it was a thing of joy because it is not an easy feat for one to be granted another year in his life, and prayed God to keep and sustain the lives of the entire legislators in particular and Abians in general.

NOTICE OF MOTION

H.A.M 13: Motion on the Need to Cede Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, and Abia State College of Education {Technical} Arochukwu to the Federal Government of Nigeria, sponsored by the Majority Leader, Hon Solomon Akpulonu.

The Motion was deferred to be considered on another legislative date.

ORDER OF THE DAY

H.A.M 12 : Motion on the Need for National Identity Management Commission {NIMC} to establish more National Identification Number Enrollment Centres across the 24 State Constituencies in Abia State.

Sponsor of the Motion, Hon Emmanuel Ndubuisi, Member representing Bende South State Constituency, said the National Identity Management Commission {NIMC} is saddled with the responsibilities of owning, operating, maintaining and managing the National Identity Database in Nigeria. He said the National Communications Commission { NCC } recently directed Communication Service Providers {CSPs} to link the National Identification Number { NIN } of Nigerians to all the registered Subscribers Identification Modules {Sim Cards} on or before the 28th of February, 2021 which led to the recent upsurge in the enrolment for the National Identification Number.

He said the motion became necessary since Nigeria is battling with the resurgence of Covid-19 pandemic which has necessitated the need for people to observe all the Covid-19 protocols to reduce the risk of community transmission of the disease, and the need to decongest registration centres.

Hon Ndubuisi further said that the presence of few enrollment centers for the National Identification Number {NIN} has resulted in the clustering of people at the available centers thereby increasing the risk of transmission of Covid-19 disease from person to persons. He regretted that the enrollment centres in some of the Local Government Areas are few and far away from rural dwellers which further makes it difficult for them to enroll.

He therefore urged the House to resolve to persuade the National Identity Management Commission {NIMC} to establish National Identification Number Enrollment Centres across the 24 State Constituencies of the State.

RESOLUTION

Based on contributions from Members, the Speaker called for the decentralization of the enrollment centres so as to avert the spread of Covid-19 disease that could be caused as a result of congestion at such centres..

PRESENTATION OF REPORTS

{1} Presentation of the Report of the Joint Committee on Judiciary and Public Utilities on H.A.B. 12: The Abia State Electric Power Authority and Power Stations Bill, 2019.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommended that H.A.B 12 be given accelerated passage into Law.

{2}  Presentation of the Report of the Committee on NDDC/ASOPADEC and Petroleum Matters on the Petition titled “Illegal Exploitation of Crude Oil {Bunkering}, Acts likely to Cause a Breach of the Peace at our Oil Palm Plantation Farm Land in Igiri-Ukwu Autonomous Community in Ukwa West Local Government Area”.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1, That security agents should be alive to their duties especially in monitoring the oil pipe lines within the communities to forestall further bunkering activities.

2. That the committee leaders should rise up to their roles to ensure that their youths do not  engage in bunkering activities

3, That the illegal refining of petroleum products in the palm plantation situated at Ife Umulolo Uzo in Igiri-Ukwu Autonomous Community in Ukwa West Local Government Area should be stopped forthwith due to its grave implications.

{3}  Presentation of the Report of the House Committee on Industry, Science and Technology H.A.B. 24: The Abia State Industrial Clusters Establishment Bill, 2020.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. That the title of the Bill should be corrected to read “A Bill for a Law to Establish Industrial Clusters/Layouts in the three Senatorial Districts of Abia State and for other matters connected therewith”.

2,  That the Ministry of Lands and Survey as written in the proposed Bill in clause 5 (e) be corrected to read “Ministry of Lands, Survey and Urban Planning”.

3, That a new clause 5 (f) be inserted to read “a representative of Ministry of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises not below Grade Level 15 “.

4,  That the Industrial Clusters/Layouts must be established in compliance with the Abia State Urban and Regional Planning Board and Planning Authorites Law, Cap 40.

Vol 11, Laws of Abia State, 2005 {as amended}.

5. That in Clause 6 (1b) line 4; “meeting day” be deleted and date of the meeting inserted in place thereof.

6. That the Committee do hereby recommend that H.A.B 24 be passed into Law.

{4} Presentation of the Report of the House Committee on Public Utilities on H.A.B. 30: The Abia State Water and Sewage Development Bill, 2020.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee having critically analyzed the findings hereby recommend that the House do pass H.A.B 30 into Law in order to reduce the incidents of water related diseases and promote healthy living in Abia State.

RESOLUTIONS

The Speaker, Rt Hon Engr Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji thanked chairmen of the committees and their members that presented their Reports. He committed the Reports to the Committee of the Whole for deliberations and recommendations to be considered on another Legislative date.

Items H.A.B 32: and H.A.B 21 were deferred to be considered on another Legislative date.

The House adjourned Plenary to reconvene on Tuesday, 23rd February, 2021 by 10am.

Courtesy: Media Unit, Office of the Rt Hon Speaker.