Abia State House of Assembly Plenary for Tuesday, 16th November, 2021

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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 Emeka Okoroafor, Member representing Isuikwuato State Constituency led the opening prayer.

The Abia State House of Assembly commenced plenary after the adoption of Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday, 12th October, 2021.

ANNOUNCEMENT

The Speaker announced to the House that Sir JohnPedro Irokansi, Clerk / Permanent Secretary of the Abia State House of Assembly has successfully completed and acquired his Doctorate, PhD, from the Abia State University, Uturu. The Speaker, on behalf of all the Members, congratulated and felicitated with him on his new status.

PERSONAL EXPLANATION

Hon Ginger Onwusibe, Member representing Isiala Ngwa North said he was specially inviting the Speaker and his other colleagues to the commissioning of Lady Nkechi Ikpeazu Primary Health Center, a project he initiated, constructed, completed and equipped with medical equipments in his constituency.

He said the commissioning of the project which will be done by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu is slated for 24th November, 2021 by 10am.

Hon Obinna Ichita, Member representing Aba South State Constituency also presented a Personal Explanation.

NOTICE OF MOTION

H.A.M. 17 : Motion for the Immediate Implementation of Section 126 (2) of the Abia State Local Government Law (Amendment No.4) 2015 by the Local Government Chairmen to Enhance Welfare of Traditional Rulers.

Hon Barr Emeka Okoroafor, Member representing Isuikwuato State Constituency is sponsor of the Motion for the implementation of Section 126 of Abia State Local Government Law (No.2) of 2006 which provides for the establishment of a Traditional Rulers Council in every Local Government Area of Abia State.

He said Section 126(2) of Abia State Local Government Law (Amendment No. 4) of 2015 provides for the deduction of five per cent (5%) from each Local Government Council’s Allocation to be given to the Traditional Council of each Local Government for effective operation and discharge of their responsibilities.

“The welfare and the security of the people are the primary responsibilities of every government including the Local Government authorities. Security challenges of kidnapping, banditry and farmers-herders conflicts in our various Local Governments and communities are on the increase.

“The issue of security as an emerging rule is a shared responsibility between the Traditional Institution, Community Vigilante groups and the Conventional Security Agencies”, Hon Okoroafor explained.

He further said that the 5% provided for in the aforementioned Local Government Law is for the effective discharge of this shared responsibility by the Traditional Rulers as Chief Security Officers of their communities among other things.

Concluding, he said it appeared that the Traditional Rulers had failed in the discharge of this important responsibility because of paucity of funds, traceable to failure of the Local Government authorities to release the said statutory 5% to the Traditional Rulers Council which is a flagrant disobedience and infraction of a valid Law and this infraction and non-implementation of provisions of the said Law had greatly sustained the unending security challenges and constituted a clog in the efforts of the Traditional Rulers and that of the State Government to rid the State of all forms of criminality.

PRAYERS

1. That the House do mandate the Chairmen of the Local Governments in the State to implement the provisions of Section 126 (2) of the Abia State Local Government (Amendment No.4 ) Law 2015 to ensure that the said statutory 5% deducted from each Local Government’s Allocation is regularly released to the Traditional Rulers Council in every Local Government to enable them discharge their responsibilities creditably as well as effectively fight crimes in various autonomous communities.
2. That the Local Government Chairmen and Commissioner for Local Government & Chieftaincy Affairs in the State be invited to interface with the House with a view to ensuring the implementation of the said Section 126 (2) of the Local Government (Amendment No 4 ) Law of 2015.

The Speaker said the House will deliberate on the prayers put out by Hon Emeka Okoroafor concerning H.A.M. 17 on the next Legislative Day.

In a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Hon Solomon Akpulonu and seconded by Hon Mike Onyekwere Ukoha, items on the Order Paper were deferred to be considered on another Legislative Day.

ADJOURNMENT

Hon Solomon Akpulonu, Majority Leader of the House, moved that plenary be adjourned to another Legislative Day.

Hon Mike Onyekwere Ukoha seconded the motion.

Plenary was therefore adjourned to Wednesday, 17th November, 2021.

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