A’Ibom House of Assembly dissolves LG councils

By Etim Ekpimah

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has dissolved the 31 local government councils in the state even as it directed the council chairmen to handover all government properties to their councils’ Heads of Service by July 10.

The Speaker of the House, Mr. Aniekan Uko, stated on Thursday that in accordance with the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the tenure of the present local government chairmen ceases at 12 midnight on July 10.

Uko said that the leadership of the present local government council were inaugurated on July 11, 2012 with a life span of three years.

He asked all chairmen of the local government councils in the state to return all government properties and documents in their possessions to the Heads of Service in their respective local government councils.

He also urged the clerk of the House, Mrs. Mandu Umoren, to inform the state governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, about the decision of the House – for necessary action.

The House Leader, Mr. Udo Kerien, had moved a motion for the dissolution of the local government councils, which was seconded by a member representing Esit Eket/Ibeno state constituency, Mr. Usoro Akpausoh.

The House also received a Notice of Motion on the establishment of a nuclear plant in Akwa Ibom, which was sponsored by a member representing Onna state constituency, Mr. Nse Essien.

The motion urged the Assembly to pass a resolution imploring the National Atomic Energy Commission and the Federal Government to reconsider FG’s desire to build a nuclear plant in the state because it is densely populated.

The motion also asked the Federal Government to explore other available and harmless sources of power in the state, including increasing the capacity of the Ibom Power Plant.

Uko referred the motion to the Committee on Environment for further study, and urged the committee to report its findings to the House within one week.

Culled from The Punch