Abia State House of Assembly Plenary for Wednesday, 22nd September, 2021

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 Chambers.

Hon Solomon Akpulonu, Leader of the House and Member representing Obingwa East State Constituency led the opening prayer.

The Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday 13th July, 2021 could not be adopted by the House due to interpretations to a section of the House Rules as raised by Hon Thomas Nkoro. After discussions on the matter by Honourable members, the Speaker requested the Leader of the House and the Clerk to review the issue and present their report to the House on the next Legislative Day for wider consideration.

MATTER OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE

Hon Barr Okey Igwe, Member representing Umunneochi State Constituency brought up a Matter of Urgent Public Importance wherein he said kidnappers, bandits and armed robbers have besieged his Constituency. The Lawmaker said the matter has got so bad that his constituents now live in fear, requesting the House to intervene and help bring the ugly situation under control.

Hon Igwe also said that the perpetrators of the nefarious activities in Umunneochi now use Lokpanta cattle market as their den from where they unleash terror on innocent citizens.

PRAYERS.

Hon Barr Okey Igwe thereafter made the following prayers to the House:

1. That the House mandate the State’s Commissioner of Police and the Army Commander in the area to up their game and ensure that lives and property in the area are protected.

2. That the House also mandate the security heads in the area to urgently restore the security check points along the vital points in the area and to add more men to their patrol teams.

3. Urged the House to invite the Executive Chairman of Umunneochi Local Government Area to come and explain to the House his challenges leading to the dwindling security situation at Lokpanta cattle market in particular and the Local Government in general.

4. That the House mandate the Ministry of Homeland Security to liaise with the local vigilante groups in the area to help other security agencies present there.

RESOLUTION

After contributions from Rt Hon Chikwendu Kalu, Hon Thomas A.C. Nkoro, Hon Paul Taribo, Hon Mike Ukoha, Hon Mandela Obasi and Hon Jerry Uzosike, the Speaker said the safety of lives and property of Abians is of paramount importance to the House and cannot be equated with any other thing. He said the general security situation in the country is worrisome and as such, every government agency in the State must rise up to the occasion and make sure the State is kept free from hoodlums and invaders.

He therefore mandated the Clerk of the House to, as a matter of urgency, send a letter of invitation to the Executive Chairman of Umunneochi Local Government Area, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Homeland Security and the Chairman of Lokpanta cattle market for an interaction with the Honourable Members on finding lasting solutions to the menace.

The Speaker also implored the security heads in the area to restore the security check points at strategic locations in the vicinity in order to curb the activities of criminals in the area.

NOTICE OF PRESENTATION OF BILL

H.A.B. 45 : The Abia State Debt Management Office Bill 2021 (A Bill for a Law to Amend the Abia State Debt Management Office Law) sponsored by Hon Solomon Akpulonu, the Majority Leader of the House and Member representing Obingwa East State Constituency.

After considerations and in a motion moved by the Majority Leader and seconded by the Minority Leader, H.A.B. 42 passed the First Reading.

Other items on the Order Paper were deferred for consideration 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 Monday, 27th September, 2021.

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