By Deacon Aluu Vincent
The role of the legislature in the development of any society cannot be over-emphasized. It is the duty of the Legislature to make laws for the peace, progress, security and prosperity of a people. It is also the responsibility of the law-making body to provide the legislative and other support to other arms of government to enable same carry out their functions devoid of any hassle.
As one of the greatest historians of all times, the late Ambassador Professor Okon Edet Uya said, “the raison d’etre of government is to service the welfare of the people. This is what gives government a moral anchor”. The Legislature has an undeniably critical role to play in ensuring the provision of services that will improve the lives of the people and guarantee prosperity and development. This comes by way of granting approvals to spend public funds, making laws to give legal backings to the policies and programmes of government.
Given this critical role, there is no gainsaying that the Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey-led Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has contributed immensely to the development, industrialization and completion agenda of the present government. It is often said that a Legislature is judged by the quantity, quality and impact of bills, motions and other legislative engagements to its credit. The 7th Akwa Ibom Assembly has done noble by sponsoring more than 40 bills some of which have been passed and signed into law while others are at various stages of committee engagements. Some of the bills are meant to provide support to the Udom Emmanuel government to succeed.
Some of the bills include Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Bill. Hon. (Barr) Aniefiok Dennis (Etinan) Passed into law, HAB 218 A Bill for a law to establish Akwa Ibom State College of Health Technology. Hon. (Barr) Aniefiok Dennis Passed into law, HAB 219 A bill for a law to establish Akwa Ibom Safety Commission. Rt. Hon. (Dr) Usoro Akpanusoh Stakeholders’ engagement completed, HAB 220 A bill for a law to make provision for establishment of Akwa Ibom Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency. Rt. Hon. Mark Esset Passed into Law, HAB 221 2020 Appropriation Bill Executive Bill Passed into Law, HAB 222 A bill for a law to establish Akwa Ibom State Security Trust Fund. Hon. (Barr) Otobong Bob Passed second reading, HAB 223 A bill for a law to establish Akwa Ibom State Tourism, Art and Culture Endowment Fund. Hon. Asuquo Nana Udo (Ikono) Passed second reading, HAB 224 A bill for a law to establish Akwa Ibom State College of Science & Technology, Nnung Ukim, Ikono. Hon. Godwin Ekpo (Ibiono Ibom) Passed into law, HAB 225 A bill for a law to provide for the establishment of Akwa Ibom Debt Management office. Rt. Hon. Uduak Odudoh Passed into law, HAB 226 A bill for a law to establish Akwa Ibom Bureau of Public Procurement and Budget Monitoring Hon. Uduak Odudoh Passed into law, HAB 227 A bill for a law to establish the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly Legislative Fund Management and other matters connected therewith Rt. Hon. Udo Kierian Akpan Public hearing/Stakeholders’ engagement, HAB 229 A bill for a law to provide for the control of physical/urban and regional planning activities, the establishment of urban regional planning agency and area planning authorities in Akwa Ibom State. Rt. Hon. Udo Kierian Akpan Passed into law.
Others are HAB 231 A bill for a law to establish Akwa Ibom Neighborhood Safety Corp and for connected purposes. Hon. Anietie Eka Passed second reading, HAB 237 Security Improvement through functional Community Policing. Rt. Hon. Aniekan Uko Passed first reading, HAB 240 A bill for a law to establish Akwa Ibom Private Healthcare Management Agency. Hon. Udeme Otong Passed first Reading, HAB 242 Akwa Ibom Consumer Protection Agency Bill Hon. (Barr) Esse Umoh Passed first Reading, HAB 246 A bill for a law to establish Akwa Ibom State Information Technology Development Agency. Hon. KufreAbasi Edidem. Passed First Reading, HAB 247 A bill for a law to establish a comprehensive food security framework for the State; Food storage facilities, strategic Food Reserve and for other connected purposes. Rt. Hon. (Elder) Aniekan Uko Passed First Reading, HAB 243 A bill for a law to amend the appropriation law, 2020. Rt. Hon. (Sir) Udo K. Akpan Passed into Law, Akwa Ibom State Symbols Bill, passed into law, Local Content Bill, passed first reading, among others.
Also, the 7th Assembly has moved more than 30 motions/matters of urgent public importance some of which have been acted upon.
Significantly is the fact that Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey has provided robust leadership direction to his colleagues and the Assembly. I am one of those who believe that it is the man who makes the office and not the other way round. Aniekan Bassey has displayed a rare kind of servant-leadership through his unassuming nature. This has brought honour, prestige and accolades to the leadership of the People’s Assembly.
He speaks to everyone in the same way, whether he is the garbage man, the Clerk or the Deputy Speaker. He understands that to lead the people, he must walk behind them and that there is no need to show off when you know who you are. It is this understanding that has defined Aniekan’s relationship with his colleagues and the public. First, he ensured that members get their dues, take charge of their various committees and are held accountable. Here is a man who for four years as member had no Police escort and was always sitting with his driver in the front seat of the car. Aniekan’s life has taught me that when you let humility and receptivity define you, you don’t become arrogant, you don’t become brash, you don’t become proud. Rather, God gives you a “holy boldness” to proclaim the truth more accurately.
Members of the 7th Assembly have openly spoken of how infectious his humility is and how he has redefined House leadership by running an open-door government, and giving everyone a sense of belonging. His colleagues who have since nicknamed him the Working Speaker, are in agreement that Speaker Bassey is a leader who matches his words with action, stressing that the nickname came up because of the way he (Speaker) has continued to hold the state legislative arm as one, and how he has handled the affairs of the House so far. Only recently, Speaker Bassey was elected Vice Chairman Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures in Nigeria and Chairman South South Speakers’ Forum.
Need I mention the fact that Speaker Bassey has ensured the provision of a conducive work environment for members and staff. This led to the massive renovation of offices, committee rooms, speaker’s lodge, replacement of furniture and generating set, repainting of the Assembly complex and landscaping, etc.
The leadership and members of the People’s Assembly understand that to whom much is given, much is expected. To that extent, members have gone ahead to meet the needs of their constituents through various empowerment programmes and attracting of development projects to their various constituencies.
One of such programmes is the Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey Youth Empowerment Support Scheme, RHAB-YESS, championed by the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly. The programme is aimed at discovering, mentoring and supporting young entrepreneurs to become job and wealth creators. The scheme is for every Akwa Ibom sons and daughters within the state and it complements Governor Udom Emmanuel’s Enterprise Development Drive. The idea is to provide support funds for 3 small businesses and startups every month. While the winner goes home with 250,000, the second and third place smiles home with 150,000 and 100,000 respectively. Winners are selected from a Face Book open contest every Saturday, 8pm to 9pm. The programme which will run until the end of 2023 is at its 13th edition has so far empowered 39 small businesses and start-ups.
Another aspect the 7th Assembly has done well is in the area of lending support and cooperating with other arms of government for the good of the Akwa Ibom people. The Assembly under Speaker Bassey understands that strict adherence to separation of powers as enunciated by Baron De Montesquieu is not cast on stones. Upon taking over as Speaker, he sued for collaborative governance where each arm of government will go for cooperation of powers.
According to the Speaker, “the Seventh Assembly does not see separation of powers as an avenue to antagonise other arms of government, rather it is a means of ensuring proficiency in governance through synergy. If the three arms of government cooperate and collaborate, there will be less political frictions that will hamper the delivery of dividends of democracy to the people. We all know that separation of powers is a key component of a democratic government. Though separate, we should imbibe the spirit of co-operation and collaboration of the arms of government. Truth is no arm of government can truly be separated in a functional democracy that seeks to deliver dividends to the people".
It is the above mindset that has seen the Assembly work hand in gloves with the Executive arm of government to ensure the actualization of the industrialization and completion agenda. The Assembly has always been on hand to grant approvals to the Governor; screen and clear his nominees, scrutinse and approve yearly budgets, conduct oversight functions
It is expedient that the 7th Assembly quadruples its support to the Udom Emmanuel-led government by liaising with the relevant agencies to encourage more inflow of foreign investment. The Assembly should make laws that provides tax reliefs, free or subsidized lands and other incentives to investors. Government should as a matter of urgency ensure that certificate of occupancies for landed properties are given expedited action to lure investors. Also, extant laws that are anti investment should be immediately reviewed. Laws setting up Akwa Ibom State Investment Corporation (AKICORP), should be rejigged and repositioned so it remains alive to its set mandate.
The industrialisation agenda of the Udom Emmanuel-led government is yielding positive fruits and must be supported. It is one agenda that has set the tone for the complete transformation of the state from a civil service state to a business hub that will guarantee prosperity, development and improvement of living standards of the people. The House of Assembly has a critical role to play in the overall success of the plan. I have no doubt in my mind that the Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey led 7th Assembly has since keyed into it and are ready to do more.
God Bless Akwa Ibom State.
Deacon Aluu Vincent – Ubokutomabasi Kiet of Akwa Ibom State, the Publisher of Naija Eye Witness News and Legacy Magazine, writes from Uyo.
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