AKHA considers legislative agenda, reads two bills

The Akwa Ibom state legislature is soon to begin the full implementation of a legislative agenda which will serve as the template for a more effective service delivery for the 6th assembly. This follows the report submitted on Tuesday to the House by the Committee on Rules, Business, Ethics, and Privileges on Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Legislative Agenda for the Legislative Year. Also on Tuesday, the House had the first reading of two private member bills.

It would be recalled that the state assembly on October 13, 2015, deliberated on a motion titled, Legislative Agenda for the Legislative Year sponsored by the member representing Itu state constituency, Hon. Prince Idongesit Ituen. The matter was thereafter referred to the Committee on Business, Rules, Ethics and Privileges for in-depth study and scrutiny.

Further legislative action on the report was however stayed on Tuesday till after the next legislative date. According to the Speaker, the deferment is to enable the House consider inputs to the agenda by expert legislative institutions.

Explaining why the final draft of the agenda has to wait, Speaker Onofiok Luke said: “In the normal course of business, we would have dissolved into the committee of the whole to consider the attached legislative agenda to the report. But since we have gone into partnership with some developmental agencies like the Nigerian Institute of Legislative Studies, NILS, the United States Agency for International Development USAID, and other nongovernmental organizations who have promised to contribute to the improvement of our institutional capacity, we will take their inputs on this legislative agenda. It is pertinent that we await their input on Friday”. 

While commending Hon. Aniekan Uko who chairs the Rules and Business Committee and other members of the committee for their efforts, the Speaker said that the implementation of the agenda by the House will benefit the masses. He said the agenda, which the House will make public, will be the basis upon which the performance of the 6th assembly will be assessed by members of the public.

“They will assess our performance, whether we have lived up to the goals that we set for ourselves as enshrined in the legislative target that we are soon going to adopt and unveil to the Akwa Ibom public.”

Also at Tuesday’s plenary, two bills passed first reading on the floor of the House. They are the bill for The Law To Develop An Economic Strategy To Support The Business Sector In Akwa Ibom State And Other Matters Connected Therewith, and The Bill For A Law For The Protection Of Investors And Investments In Akwa Ibom State. Both bills are sponsored by the member representing Mkpat Enin state constituency, Hon. Oto-obong Ndem and 12 other lawmakers, and were referred to the committee on Rules, Business, Ethics, and Privileges for second reading scheduling.