A second look at Emmanuel Akpan’s Legislative Odyssey

A second look at Emmanuel Akpan’s Legislative Odyssey

The member representing the good people of Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency in the Green Chambers of the National Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Sunday Akpan, may be socially silent in his relationship with people in and outside the chambers, but his legislative exploit especially as it concerns motions, bills and vocal contributions, which is the primary function and the fundamental duty of a legislator, has not been relegated.

In the National Assembly like every other parliament, the primary function of a legislator is to make laws for the smooth running of government, laws aimed at positively affecting the lots of the citizenry, and of course, lawmakers are constitutionally mandated to brief their constituents on their activities from time to time within the span of their legislative tenure.

Hon. Akpan’s journey so far in the Green Chambers has been a rather interesting journey. In his near three years in the House, his legislative propositions has not only added to the nation’s stability following his sponsored bills and motions, but has provided a clear direction for good and quality governance, especially within the leadership of the House.

For instance, the latest bill sponsored by Hon. Akpan, on “the need to address the recurring cases of death caused by generator fumes in Nigerian homes”, Hon. Akpan did not only expounded on the intricacies of one of the most dangerous causes of death in numerous homes across the country, but ensured those in authority were put on their toes towards providing optimal power supply as a panacea for such prevalent danger.

This motion despite political divide was highly applauded by members of the House owing to its life-serving implication.

Hon. Akpan got this right because his legislative experience at the time as a state lawmaker for eight years was deployed towards nation building, legislative patriotism, good governance and effective representation. He has justified his place as a lawmaker in the Nigerian legislative landscape.

Hon. Akpan has 8 bills/motions to his credit within his short stay in the House. Some of the bills which have passed second reading are:

1. Motion on the need for revival of large scale production of palm oil in Nigeria.

2. Bill to amend the SON Act, 2015. This bill empowers the organisation to carry out inspection of all goods imported to Nigeria.

3. Presented a motion on the need for reconstruction and dualization of Ikot Ekpene – Umuhia road.

4. Motion on the need for federal government to establish more colleges of special education in Nigeria.

5. The need to address the recurring causes of death caused by generator fumes in Nigerian homes and other motions of national importance.

As a way of giving back to his constituents, Hon. Akpan recently constructed and renovated some public facilities in his Federal constituency.

He renovated some health centres, primary and secondary schools in Essien Udim LGA, specifically in Ikot Uko, Odoro Ikot, and doled out millions of naira for scholarship to students in the higher institutions.

He has also donated brand-new vehicles, outside his planned empowerment programme to his constituents.

Some construction works embarked by Hon. Akpan is the ongoing construction of Corpers Lodge and staff quarters, construction of Ikot Ineme road down to Ikot Utin and has also given employment to several youths and women in Ikot Ekpene Federal Constituency.

Hon. Akpan, in fulfilling his electioneering promises and meeting his constitutional mandate, has fixed March 2018 for the briefing of his constituents.

This will be accompanied with several empowerment items for the people who voted him to represent them at the lower House of the National Assembly.

For this, the people of the areas have unanimously asked Hon. Emmanuel Sunday Akpan to consider returning to the House of Representatives come 2019.

Despite several distractions from political opponents and blackmailers, Hon. Emmanuel Akpan has brought honour to Akwa Ibom State and his constituents through robust, intellectually engaging and cerebral legislative contributions and deliberations.

He has raised several points of order and sponsored bills and motions on the floor of the House.

He and his colleagues in the 8th National Assembly have had a smooth run and peaceful deliberations in the last over two years, where collaboration with the Executive for the smooth running of the federal government has been uppermost in their agenda.

Speaking recently on his proposed constituency briefing and empowerment programme, Hon. Akpan, noted: “My primary function is to make law for the smooth running of government and this I can assure you, we have been doing effectively.

“The last over two years of this current 8th Assembly has been very effective and we have done a lot in our legislative functions, especially the oversight ones.

At resumption of the 8th Assembly, we made a promise that this will be the best assembly in the history of Nigeria, and so far, we are at the verge of making true our promise to the Nigerian people.

“As a House, we have been able to assist in making good laws for the smooth running of the nation.

We have cooperated with the Executive to make sure that its policies and programmes are achieved for the benefit of all Nigerians.

“We know that there are distractions coming from various quarters especially as we are in the year preceding elections. We are however not in any way distracted. We are focus and will remain focused in delivering effective representation to our people.

“Our people are happy with our representation and this is the most important thing.

They sent us to represent them at the House and we are doing our very best and within the ambit of the law to achieve this.

As expected we will report back to our people. We will report progress”!

The pertinent question is: Will Hon. Emmanuel Akpan consider returning to the House of Representatives comes 2019? If he does, the people will be better for it!