Aba North Crisis: Abia Speaker Calls For Calm, Sets Up Committee

The Speaker Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji has asked the leadership of National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Aba North and Abia State Chapters respectively to rescind their decisions and allow adminsitrative and other activities to resume in Aba North Local Government Headquarters.

Rt. Hon. Orji made the passionate appeal when the President; Comrade Ikechi Nwaigwe and other Executive members of NULGE in the state apeared before members of the State House of Assembly with the chairman of the Council Headquarters, David Ikonne.

Ikonne was accused of assaulting the Head Department of Works in the local government, Mrs. Chidinma Nwanosike which forced the leadership of NULGE and staffers of the local government to lockup the main entrance to the Aba North administrative work, giving rise to many workers joining their colleagues to protest the assault on the Head of Works Department.

Abia State House of Assembly Plenary for Thursday, 7th October, 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 chamber.

Rt Hon. Chikwendu Kalu, former Speaker and Member representing Isiala Ngwa South State Constituency led the opening prayer.

The Abia State House of Assembly commenced plenary after the adoption of Votes and Proceedings of Wednesday, 6th October, 2021.

ANNOUNCEMENT

The Speaker announced to the House that the Honourable Members had the Executive Chairman of Aba North Local Government Area, Head of Works of the Council and other Principal Officers in Aba North Local Government Area, Chairmen of National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Aba North and Abia State Chapters, respectively were around to honour the summon of the House issued the previous day, and that the Lawmakers met with them at the executive session.

The Speaker said an ad-hoc committee was constituted to resolve the subsisting issues and submit their report back to the House in one week.

The Speaker also said that the House as a matter of urgency mandated the Chairman of National Union of Local Government Employees ( NULGE ) to reopen the gate of Aba North Local Government Area Headquarters immediately so that business could commence in the Council.

Members of the Ad-Hoc Committee are :

1. Rt Hon Chikwendu Kalu – Chairman

2. Hon Chukwudi Apugo

3. Hon Ginger Onwusibe

4. Hon Okey Igwe

The Speaker asked the Clerk of the House to deploy a Secretary to the committee.

In the absence of any letter from the Governor, Petitions, Matter of Urgent Public Importance and Personal Explanations, the Speaker asked the Clerk of the House to read out items on the Order Paper.

NOTICE OF PRESENTATION OF BILL

H.A.B. 46 : The Abia State Education for Employment Bill, 2021, A Bill for a Law to Establish the Abia State Education for Employment Agency) sponsored by the Majority Leader, Hon Solomon Akpulonu.

Accordingly, after passing through legislative processes, and in a motion moved by the Majority Leader and seconded by the Minority Leader, Hon Chijioke Chukwu, the Bill, H.A.B. 46, passed its First Reading.

ORDER OF THE DAY

H.A.B. 43 : The Abia State Registration of Industries and Operational Permit Bill, 2021 (A Bill for a Law to Provide for the Registration of Industries and Operational Permits in Abia State).

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 Bill).

Following a Motion by the Majority Leader, Hon Solomon Akpulonu, and seconded by the Minority Leader, Honourable Chijioke Chukwu, items H.A.B. 43 and H.A.B. 45 on the Order Paper were deferred to be considered on another Legislative Day.

SCREENING OF COMMISSIONER NOMINEES, NOMINEES FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICE COMMISSION AND CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.

In a motion moved by the Majority Leader and seconded by the Minority Leader, the House dissolved into a quasi plenary session for the purpose of continuing with the screening of the Commissioner Nominees, Civil Service Commission and Local Government Service Commission Member-Nominees.

The Sergeant-At-Arms ushered in Mr Kingsley Eke Imaga, a commissioner nominee.

The nominee identified the Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon Ifeanyi Francis Uchendu as his representative.

After questions from the Honorable Members to which the nominee provided satisfactory answers, the Speaker asked the nominee to take a bow and exit the chamber.

Next to be ushered in by the Sergeant-At-Arms was Barr Chinenye Chinyere Emelogu who identified Rt Hon Chikwendu Kalu as his representative.

After questions from the House Members, and having provided satisfactory answers, the Speaker asked the nominee to take a bow and exit the chamber.

Barr Charles Onyedikachi Eseonu was thereafter ushered in by the Sergeant-At-Arms.

After questions from the Lawmakers, and having provided satisfactory answers, the Speaker asked the nominee to take a bow and exit the chamber.

The Sergeant-At-Arms then ushered in Sir Chidi Francis Mba who identified the Speaker, Rt Hon Engr Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji as his representative.

The Speaker said he had known the nominee for a long time and was not in anyway in doubt of his competence. At those remarks, Members unanimously agreed that the nominee should take a bow and exit the chamber.

The Sergeant-At-Arms ushered in Mr Chidiebere Kalu who identified the Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon Ifeanyi Francis Uchendu as his representative.

After questions from the Members, the Speaker asked the nominee to take a bow and exit the chamber.

It was then the turn of Prince Obinna Okey to be ushered in by the Sergeant-At-Arms.

Hon Kelechi Onuzuruike introduced the nominee to the House. He told the House that Hon Stanley Nwabisi, Member representing Ikwuano State Constituency who was unavoidably absent asked him to stand in for him and present the nominee.

After questions from Members, the Speaker asked the nominee to take a bow and exit the chamber..

It was then the turn of Chief Eze Samuel Nwanganga to be ushered in by the Sergeant-At-Arms.

The Speaker introduced the nominee saying he was very much aware of how the nominee was very instrumental in quelling a disturbing trend of security situation in the state few years ago.

Members who spoke extolled the nominee for his role in helping to keep Abia safe in the past and urged him to do even more in whatever office he is assigned. The Speaker therefore asked the nominee to take a bow and exit the chamber.

The Sergeant-At-Arms thereafter ushered in Mr Chisom Felix Nwachukwu who was the last of the commissioner nominees to be screened.

Hon Thomas A.C. Nkoro said he had the mandate of Hon Munachim Alozie, Member representing Ugwunagbo State Constituency who was unavoidably absent to introduce the nominee to the House.

After questions from the Members, the Speaker asked the nominee to take a bow and exit the chamber.

The Sergeant-At-Arms ushered in the nominees for the Civil Service Commission and Local Government Service Commission into the chamber.

The nominees for the Local Government Service Commission are:

1.Mr Victor Azumara – Chairman

2. Mr Ben Nwogu – Member

3. Hon Ako Atuloma – Member

4. Engr Rita Okengwu – Member

5. Barr Mrs Priscilla Umeham – Member

6. Sir Eugene Dike – Member

7. Mr Chukwuemeka Mba – Member

Members of the Civil Service Commission are as follows:

1. Dr Mrs Elizabeth Esochaghi – Chairman

2. Mr Emmanuel Okwuobasi Kanu

3. Hon. Prince Onuoha

4. Barr Eze Ndukauba

5. Mrs Joyce Adiele

The Speaker welcomed the nominees to the chamber and asked Mr Victor Azumara, Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission if he was assuring the House that he would be a servant-leader who will avoid segregation against other members of the commission when inaugurated?

The Speaker also asked the Chairman nominee if he was promising the House that he will adhere strictly to the directives of the Governor and his objectives for a better Abia State?

The Speaker asked the Chairman nominee to pledge that they will always submit themselves to the House in the performance of their oversight functions.

Finally, the Speaker told the nominees that they will be invited to the House for questioning if there is an iota of abuse of office which might lead to the reversal of the clearance given to them by the House.

Responding, Mr Azumara promised the Speaker that the commission will live up to expectation and further said that they will at all times respect and heed to the Governor’s directives.

Lastly, he said members of the commission when inaugurated will always make themselves available to the House whenever called upon.

The Speaker asked Mr Emmanuel Okwuobasi Kanu who stood in for Dr Mrs Elizabeth Esochaghi, the chairman nominee of the Civil Service Commission who was unavoidably absent from the screening due to health reasons, to introduce the other nominees to the House.

The Speaker advised the nominees to make proper use of the opportunity offered them by the Governor and rewrite the narrative in the Abia State Civil Service Commission. They were all thereafter ushered out of the chamber by the Sergeant-At-Arms.

In a motion moved by the Majority Leader and seconded by the Minority Leader, the House reverted back to full plenary.

Reporting all that transpired at the Committee of the Whole, the Speaker said the House successfully screened 8 commissioner nominees, the nominees for the Local Government Service Commission and the Civil Service Commission. While wishing Dr Mrs Elizabeth Esochaghi who was absent due to health reasons a quick recovery, the Speaker announced that she would appear before the House when she recovers.

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, 11th October, 2021.

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