The
legislative council of Ikono Local Government Area has suspended the council
secretary, Mr. Ekan Asuquo Udo Ukpong for alleged fraudulent practice and
incompetency, and has accordingly set-up an investigative committee to
investigate the council secretary while declaring the office of the secretary
vacant.
This
was the fall-out of last week’s sitting of the council legislature that took
place at the councilor’s chamber at council secretariat, Ibiaku Ntok Okpo.
The
sitting which was presided by the leader of the legislature, Hon. Iboro Akpan
Udo-Udo was well attended by the councilors.
Hon.
Jonathan Umanah councilor representing Nkwot ward 6 drew the attention of the
house to a petition against the council secretary from concerned citizens of Ikono
Local Government Area.
He
said that the petition is to test the credibility of the house and called on
the legislators to resist any attempt by anybody to undermine the integrity of
the legislatures as tooth-less legislators.
He
maintained that the petition before the house against the council secretary is
so weighty and is capable of tarnishing the credibility of the councilors and
the entire council if not thoroughly investigated.
Hon.
Umanah further said that it is a fraudulent practice and against the civil
service rule which the secretary knows by not resigning or take a leave of
absence when on political appointment but still collect salaries from the state
government as a teacher in comprehensive secondary school Ndiya, Ikono Local
Government and Ikono Local Government Council as secretary.
He
said that with such fraudulent act, the council secretary cannot be trusted and
is not fit to be the council secretary.
On
his part, Hon Etop Umoidem described the situation as sad and unbecoming of a
council secretary to get involved in defrauding the state government with
millions and Ikono Local Government in particular by collecting salary in where
he is not working.
He
said that even the Holy Bible warns that people should not reap from where they
did not sow, adding that the petition is very embarrassing not only to Ikono
Local government but Akwa Ibom State and that such a fraudulent person is not
fit to continue in office as the scribe of Ikono council.
Also
speaking, Mr. George Etim Okon said that Mr. Ekan Udo Ukpong should be
suspended immediately from office and investigation committee be set-up to
investigate the alleged sharp practice of the council scribe and if found
guilty must be punished according to the law.
He
maintained that the incident is very sad and that the legislature must rise to
the occasion to restore public confidence and trust on the credibility of the
lawmakers.
The
leader of the legislature, Mr. Iboro Akpan said that the action of the council
secretary was so embarrassing to the council and in total contravention of the
civil service rule.
After
a long deliberation on the matter by all councilors present during the sitting,
the legislature suspended the council secretary, Mr. Ekan Udo Ukpong from
office. The leader of the legislature, Hon Iboro Akpan who announced the
suspension directed the clerk of the legislature, Elder Sunday Ekot to
communicate same to the council chairman Hon. Emmanuel Ukpong for immediate
implementation.
He also directed the clerk to communicate same to all the
security operatives and to the suspended council secretary to immediately stop
functioning again as secretary of Ikono Local Government Council and declared
the office of the council secretary vacant.
The
investigation committee to investigate the council secretary is headed by Hon.
Etop Umoidem as chairman and other councilors are to serve as members. The
committee was given two weeks to submit its report.
When contacted the council
secretary refused to send a reply to text messages sent to his phone and
refused to pick several calls to his line.
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