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ANIEKAN BASSEY: LEADING A WORKING 7TH ASSEMBLY

 




On June 10, 2019, when Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey, a two-term lawmaker, emerged as the 12th Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly through a consensus arrangement, all eyes were hooked on him; some to watch him fail and others to urge him on to success. As practically tough as it is to lead a group of equal persons with independent minds to achieve a common goal, Rt. Hon. Bassey, in the last three years, has made it look easy.


 

Upon resumption, the 7th Assembly hit the ground running with the mission to offer effective representation through six core values which include; Accountability, Inclusiveness, Transparency, Integrity, Professionalism and Respect. These values are perceived in the passing of people-oriented bills into laws. 

 


The Assembly has fared well with indelible imprints in the last three years. 

In security, the Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey-led 7th Assembly has exercised effective oversight over the security architecture in the state and has interfaced regularly with security officials working in the state. It is worthy of note that The 7th Assembly has also made legislations that have strengthened the activities of security agencies in the state. Some of those legislations included the Akwa Ibom State Safety Commission Bill, the Akwa Ibom State Security Trust Fund, and the Akwa Ibom State Administration of Criminal Justice Law, among others.


 

In education and human capital development, the 7th Assembly has increased budgetary provision to the education sector and also made people-oriented legislation including the Akwa Ibom State College of Health Technology Law, Akwa Ibom State College of Science and Technology Law, a bill for a law to provide free tuition and examination fees in public primary and secondary in Akwa Ibom State, a bill for a law to regulate free basic and compulsory Education, the Akwa Ibom State College of Nursing and Midwifery Law, the Akwa Ibom State Education Development Bill, the Akwa Ibom State Education Trust Fund Bill and a bill for the establishment of Akwa Ibom State Digital Skills Development and Technology Agency.


Other feats by the 7th Assembly in the area of Education include the passage of resolutions, sustenance of oversight functions and support to Federal institutions in the state. 


In the area of infrastructure, the 7th Assembly has allocated funds for the construction of feeder and rural roads in the state and has made adequate funding provisions for special infrastructure projects.


The 7th Assembly has also initiated the Akwa Ibom State Social Housing Bill and an Infrastructure Development Bill to provide for the facilitation and coordination of public infrastructure development and has ensured that infrastructure development in the State is given priority in planning, approval and implantation, among other feats. 


 

The Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey-led 7th Assembly has also made indelible marks in the health sector. This includes the increase of public awareness on Anti-Stigmatization and Discrimination against People Living with HIV/AIDS, the Akwa Ibom State Health Insurance Agency Bill, the Akwa Ibom State Private Healthcare Management Agency Bill, as well as the passage of a Bill on Free Medical Care for Children under the age of five, old people and pregnant women.


The 7th Assembly has also improved budgetary allocation to the health sector in terms of facilities, Doctors, Nurses and other health personnel and has strengthened oversight of the health sector. 


 


In the area of job and wealth creation, the 7th Assembly has given a great boost to sports and youth development through the passage of the Akwa Ibom Sports Development Fund Bill. This was borne out of the state’s need for funds for Youth manpower Development. The Assembly has also strengthened its oversight functions, particularly on resolutions and policies aimed at reducing unemployment in the state, among other achievements. 


 


In fact, the Violence Against Persons (VAP) law, which has become a household name; Akwa Ibom State Administration of Criminal  Justice Law, and many others are just drops in the ocean of achievements of the Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey-led 7th Assembly, a selfless and working Speaker. It is interesting to know that the 7th Assembly received 65 Bills and passed 22 into Laws. Out of these Laws, 10 have been assented to by the State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel. Little wonder the 7th Assembly is called 'the people’s assembly.'


Press Unit

Office of the Hon. Speaker

Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly 


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