By Ifiok ITIABA
When the present 6th assembly was inaugurated a year ago, and members decided to christen themselves as the People's Assembly, many thought it would be like previous assemblies who only exist for themselves.
The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly under the leadership of Rt. Hon Onofiok Luke and cooperation of members has stand out to be one of the leading states assemblies in the country in terms of peoples’ oriented laws/resolutions.
The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly under the leadership of Rt. Hon Onofiok Luke and cooperation of members has stand out to be one of the leading states assemblies in the country in terms of peoples’ oriented laws/resolutions.
The Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly since his inauguration has been seen to be responsive at least to some degree to what citizens want, as well as to what the legislature determines they need.
A legislature acts as the highest forum for ventilation of public grievances against the executive and other bodies. Besides representing every interest and shade of opinion, the legislature acts as the national forum for expressing public opinion, public grievances and public aspirations.
A legislature acts as the highest forum for ventilation of public grievances against the executive and other bodies. Besides representing every interest and shade of opinion, the legislature acts as the national forum for expressing public opinion, public grievances and public aspirations.
To achieve this, the House under Barr Luke introduced an inclusive legislature were citizens are allow the chance to voice opinions and concerns over decisions facing them, agency, or organization before any legislative action is taken.
It should be noted here that in 2012, while he was the chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, he introduced the public hearing were citizens, corporate bodies were given opportunities to contribute to the budget before it was passed into law.
It should be noted here that in 2012, while he was the chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, he introduced the public hearing were citizens, corporate bodies were given opportunities to contribute to the budget before it was passed into law.
This according to him will afford relevant stakeholders the opportunity to contribute meaningfull to the success and implementation of the budget. Today this initiative has been helping every year in the implementation of the state's budget
As Speaker of the People’s Assembly, the House has passed various laws/Resolutions that has really centred on the people.
Before the passage of the Law to protect the physically challenged persons in Akwa Ibom State, the House Committee on Women Affairs, Social Welfare and Special Matters conducted a public hearing that had in attendance and presentations from the physically challenged who were given chances to contribute their quotas.
Before the passage of the Law to protect the physically challenged persons in Akwa Ibom State, the House Committee on Women Affairs, Social Welfare and Special Matters conducted a public hearing that had in attendance and presentations from the physically challenged who were given chances to contribute their quotas.
A Process which according to observers has never happened in the state where the real beneficiaries (Physically Challenged) will contribute and presents memoranda before the law is passed.
Moved by the plights and lack of employment opportunities for people living within Ikot Osute were Gas explosion took place sometimes last year, the members recommended as part their commitment in making sure the people are given equal right, directed Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) to complete work early on the mutually agreed projects to compensate the affected communities and engender a conducive working environment for them.
The House also directed the company to ensure that indigenes of the affected communities be given job opportunities in the company where and when vacancies exist.
Before submitting its, members of the committee as mandated by the Speaker and as their constitutional oversight function conducted an investigation on the matter and reported their findings with recommendations to the house.
Some months back the House deliberated on the alleged wrongful termination and downgrading of workers in Akwa Ibom State University, (AKSU), brought before the House by member representing Abak State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Friday Iwok following a matter of urgent public importance.
Some months back the House deliberated on the alleged wrongful termination and downgrading of workers in Akwa Ibom State University, (AKSU), brought before the House by member representing Abak State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Friday Iwok following a matter of urgent public importance.
The House having received the information, forwarded the matter to the joint Committee on Judiciary, Justice, Human Right and Public Petitions and that of Education for investigation to be done and report back to the House for proper action.
In line with the avowed commitment of the present leadership of the House to be fair and open to all parties involved, the committee chaired by Hon Barr Aniefiok Dennis interfaced with the affected staff, council members, management, officials of the Ministry of Education and other government officials, as well as and union leaders with a view of getting to root of the matter.
The committee after its findings recommended that “petitioners having stayed for more than two years should not only be regularized but also confirmed and the date of their regularization and confirmation backdated to one year and two years, respectively, from the date of their appointments”.
The lawmakers also agreed that the petitioners that are already due for promotion, scholarship, sponsorship or any other entitlements, including arrears of salaries, should have their entitlement given to them after due process have been followed, and urged their employers to expedite action in that direction.
The House went further to protect the lecturers from victimization by also passing a resolution urging the institution not to victimize the union leaders and staffs for the roles they played in the course of seeking justice.
The lawmakers cautioned the petitioners “to desist from further use of improper, combative and confrontational language against members of the Governing Council and management of the university”.
Again the People’s Assembly last week pass another resolution that really shows that it is peoples’ oriented by mandating the immediate reinstatement of some sacked teaching staff of the state-owned college of education, as they have not attained the mandatory 65 years of retirement age.
The affected lecturers were disengaged from the institution and their salaries and allowances stopped since 2013, following the implementation of the 65 years retirement age of academic staff of polytechnics and colleges of education in the country.
But sequel to series of petitions received by the House of Assembly from the affected lecturers on their untimely disengagement from service, the Speaker, Rt. Hon Onofiok Luke who is an activist of justice mandated the House Committee on Education to investigate the circumstance surrounding their disengagement and report back to the House.
Following the reports/recommendation submitted to the House by the committee chaired by Hon Samuel Ufuo, the sacked lecturers are expected to resume duty and also received their entitlement from the day they were wrongly disengaged from service.
While presenting his reports, Hon Ufuo said his committee, in the course of its investigation into the matter, found out that the Akwa Ibom state government had conducted a payroll biometric exercise in the college beginning from 2103, with the names of the affected lecturers entered as non-academic staff who were to retire at the age of 60 or 35 years in service.
"Their (sacked lecturers) names were removed from the payroll and their salaries and allowances stopped since 2013. They were still rendering their professional duties as demanded by the college.
"While they were trying to sort out their matter in September 2016, the college issued them a letter captioned: 'Notice of disengagement from service of the college', as such they were no longer assigned official duties.
"Until now, the affected lecturers have not attained 65 years of age and as such should not be retired from service".
Speaking with newsmen after the resolution of the People’s Assembly, one of the lecturers, Dr Ekanem Ekanem said “On behalf of myself and colleagues, I want to recommend members of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and to say that truly this is the people's Assembly”.
"While they were trying to sort out their matter in September 2016, the college issued them a letter captioned: 'Notice of disengagement from service of the college', as such they were no longer assigned official duties.
"Until now, the affected lecturers have not attained 65 years of age and as such should not be retired from service".
Speaking with newsmen after the resolution of the People’s Assembly, one of the lecturers, Dr Ekanem Ekanem said “On behalf of myself and colleagues, I want to recommend members of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and to say that truly this is the people's Assembly”.
Speaking at a one day public hearing on ‘Akwa Ibom State Microfinance and Enterprise Development Agency Bill, 2016’, the Speaker said, “Let me state that the 6th assembly is committed to living up to its constitutional billing as it relates to effective lawmaking, oversight and representation for the benefit of every Akwa Ibom person.
He also stated the readiness of the 6th assembly to provide the needed framework that would help the present administration to achieve its developmental goals.
Key stakeholders in the state's SMEs who contributed ideas during the hearing include Her Excellency the former first lady of the State, Obonganwan Imo Isemin, who is the Chairperson of the Uyo Chambers of Commerce and Industries.
The level of public participation and contributions through public hearing organised by the house in the process of passing laws has restored confidence on the present leadership of the 6th assembly.
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