It’s 100 days already, how is Mr. Speaker doing?

BY UKPONG UKPONG

I was going through Speaker  Onofiok Akpan Luke’s face book account at the break of dawn, reflecting on his emergence 100 days ago.I also thought deeply on what the future holds for our statewith such young leaders at the helm of affairs. As I scrolled through his posts, I figured out that thisparticular young leader holds subjects like family, friendship, self development and patriotism very dear to heart.

Whether you accept my personal observationof the Speakeror not, is beside the point, yet you will agree with me on one thing. Thatthe tremendous goodwill he enjoys is a great boost for an arm of government whose image has taken amajorbattering these past years.As a matter of fact, the wide approbation that greeted his emergenceas head of the legislative arm of our state government reflects this truth.

I couldventure to add that such applause depicts a yearning and high hopesfor a long overdue progress in the state legislature which only someone of his candor can deliver.

Just like Senator Ita Enang once noted that the business of legislation demands cerebralveracitynot fanfare, it is expected that the sixth assembly led by Barrister Onofiok Lukewill mark a departure from thenorm and stand out in terms of quality of bills passed, thoroughness of its oversight function and its ability to bridge the yawning chasm between government and the people.
For these reasons, assessing the Speaker’s first 100 days in office is important as it will give a clue of what to look forward to in days to come. What better way to begin such a review if not with the all important 2016 Appropriation Bill just signed into law?

The first bold step noticed is that the state legislature downsizedthe N426billion budget proposed by the state executiveto N423billion, saving the state N3billion. This may not have been much in the past but at present every dime saved is worth the while.

However, while a total of N94.963billionwas approved by the lawmakers for recurrent expenditure, the capital expenditure stands at N243 billion.It is obvious that the 2:8 ratio of previous administration’s budget is maintained. The concern here is that government will continue to focus on building infrastructure while the people go hungry. Already the cash crunch experienced since this administration came into power is devastating enough.

 It behooves on the legislature to ensure that this development has a human face and much of these monies to be expended on capital projects are rerouted back into our economy. The last administration failed in this direction and caused terrible capital flight in the state, but the legislature can help a great deal by insisting that more contracts be given to local contractors and that greater percentage of our people are employed where foreign companies are awarded contract.

Also, there should be a non-negotiable 100% quota for our people to handle supplies of materials like chippings, sand, water, cement and others to projects under construction. This way, much of the cash flow will be trapped within our economy.

Speaker Onofiok Luke made mention of carrying out oversight function as regards the implementation of the2016 fiscal plan. He noted, “whereas we have finished with our legislative function regarding the 2016 budget, we must move very rapidly to the next stage of oversight. 

“The aim is to ensure proper implementation as God would bless our state with the resources. Our various committees provide us the platforms on which we must look into the activities of various ministries, agencies, and parastatals with the aim of ensuring proper implementation of allocations”.

He is on point as several well intentioned budget proposals fail because there is no oversight by parliament. Without oversight there is no one to hold accountable for late release of fund, misappropriation and embezzlement. And, most times, these frauds occur inovert connivance with lawmakers, who demand bulky brown envelopes from heads of MDAs in order to look the other way.

So, if the Onofiok Luke led sixth assembly wishes to be different in that direction, there is a cause for celebration.For many, who have strong reservation about Udom Emmanuel and the genuineness of his administration toward actualizing sustainable development of this state, the Speaker’s goodwill comes in handy as an indemnity, givingthe benefit of doubt. 

If his words can be trusted, Barrister Luke’s leadership of the State House of Assembly presents an assurance that the collective interest of our people will be protected. So, in that light, the oversight function of our state legislature must improve much more than before.

While not subscribing to a meddlesome and obstreperous legislature, the peopleexpect the lawmakers to properly investigate every financial activity of the executive arm of government particularlywhether there are genuine reasons for frequent request for loan as well asharp on efficient implementation of annual budgets by Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs.

The Speaker has been down that road before while serving as Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, in the fifth assembly. The N1billion private aircraft saga is still fresh in mind. Hopefully, his oversight prowess displayed then will be brought to bear again this time around because like a bad nightmare, the people do not wish to see the ‘rubber stamp’ stance of the fifth assembly that helped sink our state into this present debt quagmire.

Aside the budget, the State House of Assembly must help redirect attention of the governor from gaudy ventures, ostensibly embarked upon to impress the people, herding him towards developing critical sector of the economy. A thoughtful legislature should be conscious of the current dynamics in global finance and question the quest for foreign direct investment in exoteric industries while those key Agro-allied industries our state have comparative advantage  over are carefully avoided. 

Othernotable achievements of Mr. Speaker, within 100 days in office, include his ability to demystify the Office of the Speaker and socialize freely with the average citizens, making it easier for the constituents to participate in governance through one-on-one interaction with the number three person in government.

The initiative of televising the plenary session of AKHA is also commendable, just as the plan to build a comprehensive legislative library. However, the Speaker must go a step further by initiating a peer review mechanism in sponsorship of bills that will serve to boost quality of lawmaking and state development.

Hisefforts at training younger people on legislative matters, which was initiated immediately he was sworn-in as Member representing Nsit Ubium State Constituency and has been sustained for over four years, may likely be broadened and perhaps made part of the State House’s leadership training scheme. Such visionary agenda further sets him far ahead of his contemporaries.