AKHA extends LG Transition Committees

L-R: Onofiok Luke, Nse Ntuen

Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has passed a resolution authorizing Governor Udom Gabriel Emmanuel to extend the tenure of local government transition committees by 6 months. This is sequel to the expiration of the six-month tenure of the councils by 12 January, 2016.  The House passed the resolution, Monday, following the submission of a report by the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs headed by Rt. Hon. Nse Ntuen of Essien Udim State Constituency.

It would be recalled that the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke had mandated the committee on local government and chieftaincy affairs to report back to the House, following information raised by Hon. Nse Ntuen that the tenure of the transition committees will expire on January 12, 2016. Before passing the resolution, the house dissolved into committee of the whole to consider the report.
In their 3-point resolution, the House authorized Governor Udom Emmanuel to extend the tenure of the committees by a period of 6 months, cause the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC) to conduct elections into the local government councils within the six months, and not to hesitate in replacing any council chairman or transition committee member found wanting in their duty.
A motion in support of the resolution was moved by the House Leader, Rt. Hon. Udo Kierian Akpan of Oruk Anam state constituency and seconded by Hon. Asuquo Archibong of Urueofong Oruko state constituency.
Rt. Hon. Luke commended members for painstakingly looking into the issue of local government administration in the state and acting promptly.
In a chat with newsmen at the end of the sitting, the House Committee Chairman on Information, Rt. Hon. Barr Ime Okon said if the House had not passed the resolutions, there would have been a vacuum in local government administration in the state.