Abia State House of Assembly Plenary for Tuesday, 4th October, 2022

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.

Hon Kelechi Onuzuruike, Member representing Umuahia North State Constituency led the opening prayer.

The Abia State House of Assembly commenced plenary after the adoption of Votes and Proceedings of Wednesday, 31st August, 2022.

MATTER OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE

Member representing Bende South State Constituency, Hon Emmanuel Ndubuisi requested that the House suspend Order 65; Rule 5 on their Order book to permit him bring to the House the issue of a ravaging gully erosion in his area.

The Speaker said because of the urgency of the matter and the troubling pictures circulating around, it was pertinent to take urgent steps to avert further loss of lives and properties.

In a motion moved by the Deputy Leader, Hon Paul Taribo and seconded by the Minority Leader, Hon Chijioke Chukwu, the House amended its Order Paper.

In his Matter of Urgent Public Importance, Hon Emmanuel Ndubuisi lamented about the worrisome ecological situation in Umunze Amauba, Uzuakoli, Bende LGA and said the affected community have been cut off from the rest of other communities, economic crops destroyed and several houses swallowed by the gully erosion.

Hon Ndubuisi said the rest of the community live in fear and uncertainty once there is rainfall because of its negative effects on the people and the area. He informed that the people in the area have spent millions in Naira in their efforts to control the erosion but that due to its sprawling nature, the impact of their efforts usually comes to nought.

PRAYERS

a. That the House mandate the State Ministry of Environment to commence palliative works on the affected areas.

b. That the House also mandate the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) to address the erosion in Umunze Amauba, Uzuakoli, holistically.

RESOLUTION

The Speaker said the Ministry of Environment should liaise with other Ecological Agencies to commence both palliative and permanent works on the site to avert further loss of lives and properties.

Rt Hon Engr Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, therefore said the House adopts all the Prayers of Hon Emmanuel Ndubuisi.

ORDER OF THE DAY

H.A.M. 19: Motion for the Immediate Government Intervention on the Devastating Gully Erosion Rampaging Ihenwekela Autonomous Community of Umuahia South Local Government Area.

The sponsor of the Motion, Member representing Umuahia South State Constituency, Hon Jerry Uzosike said Ihenwekela Autonomous Community in Umuahia South LGA is presently under serious attack of gully erosion which has ravaged properties worth millions of Naira and threatening many others.

He further informed that the Autonomous Community has been cut off from the rest of the communities in Umuahia South LGA thereby impeding transportation of farm produce to neighbouring communities, and thet the people of the community and other stakeholders in Umuahia South have made several passionate appeals to NEWMAP to come to their rescue but to no avail.

Finally, Hon Uzosike said there was need for urgent Government intervention on the devastating gully erosion sites to forestall further loss of lives and property of his constituents.

PRAYERS

a. That the House mandate the State Government to direct the Abia State Ministry of Environment and other relevant Agencies in the State to commence palliative works on the gully erosion sites without further delay.

b. That the Abia NEWMAP and the Technical Committee be mandated to visit the erosion sites for an on the spot assessment and subsequent inclusion in the priority list for urgent action.

RESOLUTION

The Speaker, Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji committed the Motion to the House on Environment doe their action and that they were to report progress in two weeks.

H.A.B. 59: The Abia State College of Nursing Sciences Bill, 2022

A Bill for a Law to Establish Abia State College of Nursing Sciences sponsored by the Majority Leader, Hon Solomon Akpulonu.

The Speaker said due to some technical issues attached to the Bill, the Bill was committed to the House Committee on Health and they were expected to harmonize it and revert back to the House.

Other Items on the Order Paper were deferred to be considered on another Legislative Day.

ADJOURNMENT

Hon Paul Taribo, Deputy Majority Leader of the House, moved that plenary be adjourned to another Legislative day.

The Minority Leader seconded the motion.

Plenary was adjourned to Wednesday, 5th October, 2022.

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