Akwa Ibom 5th Assembly: Time To Take Stock

By Henshaw NYONG
 

Henshaw NYONG writes on the activities of the leadership and members of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly in the last two and a half years, exposing if the state legislature is living up to its billing as the representative of the people.

The legislature in any democratic setting is considered as the first arm of government and the platform on which nations and states make laws to create enabling environment for sustainable human development in all facets of life. It is also considered as the official body of law makers chosen through the electoral process to make laws, amend or repeal laws for peace, order and good governance of the state without prejudice to the provisions of the nation's constitution.
 Political watchers in Akwa Ibom State believe that the legislature, under the leadership of the Speaker, Rt Hon Samuel Okon Ikon, inaugurated on 6 June, 2011, has its major achievement in the sustenance of peaceful atmosphere which the state had been noted for since its creation.
  The unanimous decision of the 26-member legislature to elect the 41-year old Ikon, who had served as a Commissioner in the State Civil Service Commission, consecutively before his emergence as Speaker of the fifth legislature, is said to be paying well for the state in this regard.
  The Speaker, in his acceptance speech after he was inaugurated on June 6, 2011 promised to render selfless service to the House and the entire people in the Land of Promise and protect the sanctity and integrity of the State Assembly. He made some important remarks to the House saying the fifth Assembly will at all times operate a "Peoples' Assembly". While thanking his colleagues for the confidence reposed in him at the event, he eulogised the governor of the State and Apostle of Uncommon Transformation, Chief (Dr) Godswill Obot Akpabio CON, for creating a sustainable platform for democratic governance and pledged to make the state Assembly a cynosure of all eyes in the country.
  Meanwhile, given the importance of legislature in any democratic setting, many people see it as the tripod upon which other arms of government rest on, more importantly given the fact that it is supposed to be the eyes, ears and voice of the people. The legislature is believed to have its legitimacy in the true representation of the public will, while its value should lie in the intrinsic connection with the people.
  Against views held by some people that the legislature should not be seen to have too cosy relationship with the executive, members of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, headed by an erudite economist, said they had tried to improve the lives of the citizenry that elected them into office through their activities in the past three years, concluding that the legislative relationship with the executive arm of government had also been strengthened.
  Speaking on the legislative duties in the House in the past years, the Speaker of the House, also representing Etinan State constituency who is assisted by a revered labour veteran, Hon. (Sir) Udo Kierian Akpan, said the Assembly, on assumption of office, decided to settle down to legislative business with the aim of passing bills with direct relevance to the people at the grassroots and set the direction for the policies of government. Elder Ikon said the House, whose vision is also to make good laws, legislate without fear or favour, had also ensured cordial and harmonious relationship with the executive to engender smooth public administration and provided a platform upon which he said the state government recorded great feat within the last 2 and a half years.
  The Speaker said the legislature in the state had demonstrated a high sense of maturity, intelligence and mutual objectivity by facilitating the socio-economic transformation of the state and entrenching the message of good governance and peaceful co-existence irrespective of party affiliation. He added that though the legislative arm of government is dominated by the ruling Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP), with the APC having a member, it had demonstrated that it is not under the whims and caprices of the executive as the legislators do not have time for frivolity but pass laws that will stand the test of time.
  Of course, this is aptly manifested going by the quality of debates, regular over-sight functions, public hearings conducted to have stakeholders' inputs on all bills passed into law by the hallowed chamber. The House, in its wisdom, has been guided by the interest of the electorate whose mandate brought us into office and we have not deviated for once, despite the harmonious working relationship between us and the executive. Members, apart from the explicit public duties, have equally demonstrated deep sense of individual and collective commitment, particularly to the various constituencies they represent as they work in tandem with decisions that would improve government's presence in their various constituencies.
  Investigations reveal that the House has not only met the mandatory 180 days of legislature sitting per session, but has passed a sizeable number of bills, resolutions and motions. Most of the bills brought by the executive, in spite of the fact that the ruling party is in the majority, were not hurriedly passed into law. This year's Appropriation Bill; the Speaker has accentuated will be passed in the next plenary and has however explained the raison d'être of delay.
“I want to assure the good people of Akwa Ibom that next week; the house will surely pass the 2014 appropriation. The delay in the passage of 2014 budget was to ensure that the estimate met the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSASs).
  "I appeal for more patience. The bill is at advanced stage of legislative procedure. If after next week nothing happens, you can be sure you will hear from us. I'm beyond patience already and ready to lose my temper”, the Speaker explained in a chat with Assembly correspondents.
   The Speaker  stressed that a growing number of governments and international organizations around the world are recognizing the need for transparency in their finances and are, as a result, decided to adopt International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSASs), maintaining that accurate, comprehensive and reliable financial information is fundamental to accountability and decision-making in the public sector.
Nevertheless, Government's ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) were regularly summoned to make clarifications on issues that have bearing with socio-economic well being of the people of the State
  Of course, the Peoples' Assembly had in the last two and a half years resolved disputes capable of impeding peaceful co-existence and socio-economic transformation of the state through matters of public importance. Mention must be made of the House resolution that following the upsurge in crime wave in the State, the then Commissioner of Police, Mr. Felix Oyanna be redeployed from Akwa Ibom and a new one deployed to the state within 48 hours.
According to Elder Ikon, the leadership of the House, knowing fully well that for it to perform its roles and responsibilities effectively act as the agent of checks and balances to the executive arm of government so as to make institutions of government more accountable to the public, established various committees that ensured strict monitoring of government's programmes, policies and projects to ensure proper management of public fund, as well as make democracy meaningful for the people through provision of basic infrastructure.
  Taking a cursory look at what accounted for the success recorded by the fifth Assembly in the state, the Chairman, Committee on Rules, Business and Ethics and member representing Ibiono Ibom State constituency, Hon (Barr.) Ime Bassey Okon, in a chat with Assembly correspondents recently, noted that there has been cordial relationship between the Speaker, principal officers and members of the House. Expressing satisfaction with the quality of the present leadership of the House, he assured that the House will always work with renewed vigour to consolidate on what has been achieved so far.
The law luminary however, scored the Fifth Assembly high in performance in the last 2 and half years. He said his assessment was based on what the state legislature had been able to achieve in the last years.
Obong Ime Okon, said the House is ranked among the best in the country, adding that there has been cordial relationship between the members and the leadership. Expressing delight that the executive arm of government had taken the resolutions of the House seriously, he described the House of Assembly as unique in view of the cordiality between the leadership and members, irrespective of party differences, however assuring that the House would be looking forward to more private bills.
  Another member, a representative of Ukanafun State Constituency and Chairman, Committee on Public Account, Hon (Elder) Aniekan Akpan, described the relationship between the leadership and other members as impressive and assured that members would continue to give their overwhelming support to the leadership so as to consolidate on what had been achieved in the last years.
 The erudite educationist who stressed he believes strongly in justice, equity and truth, irrespective of party affiliation, described the Speaker of the House as an asset to the state, considering what he described as his transparency, accessibility, brilliance, wealth of experience and commitment to duty.
Further checks revealed that the House in the years under review had kept close stare on the local government councils through oversight functions to make them more responsive to the people. Of course, the Fifth Assembly had resolved disputes between communities in the state, oil spillage, warring issues and local Government Areas on security issues, including issues concerning awful projects execution in some local government councils.
  Above all, the Fifth Assembly must be commended for the partnership and synergy she has worked out with other arms of government, particularly, the Judiciary and the Executive to make the state conducive for development and progress. Of special mention is the co-operation the legislature has extended to the State Executive Council under the able leadership of His Excellency, Chief (Dr) Godswill Obot Akpabio which has been rewarding and manifest in the uncommon transformation of our state. The House has refused to be swayed by uninformed or misinformed critics who argue increasingly that the legislature is a rubber stamp of the Executive Arm of Government.
 Howbeit, no matter the standpoint we want to look at the Akwa Ibom State legislature, we should be able to appreciate its inclination to work harmoniously with the other arms of government to drive the development agenda of the State government through the instrumentality of legislative activities.
Altogether, the Fifth Assembly has performed well in relation to the challenges that are inherent in the polyglot character of Akwa Ibom State and the short period under review. And if its serious disposition and commitment to lawmaking and other functions is anything to go by, it will likely record greater achievements in the remaining one and a half year before its tenure elapses in 2015.

NYONG is a Media Consultant and  Writes from Uyo. SMS only: 0706-453-9338,  0802-287-8104.