• AKHA Speaker, Udeme Otong (L) & Leader of Uyo Legislative Council, Hon. Ubong Effiong.
Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, on Friday, assured councillors from the 31 Local Government Areas of the State of the readiness of the 8th Assembly to maintain closer collaboration with them in order to enhance good governance at the grassroots.
Speaking at the assembly complex while playing host to Leaders of Local Government Legislative Councils from the 31 Council areas of the State, Rt. Hon.Otong who described the councilors as critical stakeholders in grassroots administration, said the 8th assembly under his watch was committed to strengthening closer collaboration with the local government legislators.
The Speaker commended the Leaders of the Local Government’s Legislative Councils for the visit, even as he declared the readiness of the Assembly to address concerns raised by them, especially issues affecting their welfare and constituency projects.
While he thanked the councillors for the visit which he described as proper and at the right time, Speaker Otong urged them to work harder by enacting relevant bye-laws that would promote smooth running of the local government administration at their respective council areas.
The Speaker advised them to work in collaboration with the Chairman, House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for their interest to be protected, advising them to always carryout oversight functions on development projects initiated by their respective Local Government Councils for the benefit of their people.
Also addressing the Councilors, the member representing Etim Ekpo/Ika State Constituency, Rt. Hon.Mfon Idung, who doubles as the chairman, House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, reminded them on the need to ensure that they carry out proper legislative oversight on projects executed by their local government Chairmen in their domain, with a view to ensuring that funds approved for project execution are well utilized for the benefit of the people,
Idung warned that the House of Assembly would frown at any Council where there are abandoned projects.
Earlier in his address, the Leader of Uyo Legislative Council, Hon. Ubong Effiong, who spoke on behalf of the delegation,
explained that they were at the Assembly to seek closer collaboration with their senior colleagues.
Effiong thanked the Speaker and members of the House for granting them audience, noting that the collaboration would enhance effective law making at the 31 Local government legislative councils in the State.
Hon.Effiong also informed the State Lawmakers that they have been very active in performing their legislative duties as they have enacted people-oriented bye-laws which have been gazetted as working tools at their respective Local Government Councils.
Press Unit,
Office of the Speaker, AKHA
08/09/23
