Mr Aniekan Bassey, Speaker,Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.
The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has suspended the Chairman of Nsit Atai Local Government Council, Lady Emem Ibanga, and that of Uyo, Elder Imo Okon, indefinitely.
They were suspended for alleged gross misconduct, administrative inefficiency and flouting governor’s directive on welfare of principal officers of the councils.
The Dune learnt that sometime last year, the 31 council chairmen were directed by the governor to buy official cars for the vice chairmen and leaders of legislature.
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Most of the council have since complied with directive except Uyo and Nsit Atai where the chairmen have a running battle with their vice.
It was gathered that the Chairman of Uyo, Elder Imo Okon flouted the Governor’s directives on the welfare of council officers and failed to appear before the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy on invitation.
Okon was also accused of mismanagement of finances and maladministration.
Lady Emem Ibanga of Nsit Atai Local Government Chairman, was allegedly suspended for non – release of statutory welfare benefit to the vice chairman of the council, pending police case between herself and councillors as well as linked to sponsoring defamatory publications against officials of the state.
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“The Local Government Committee of the House received several petitions about the Chairman involving in defamatory publication on the platform of ‘Deaf Pen’ which is termed as gross misconduct and unbecoming of a public officer,” a report by the Assembly’s press unit says.
The suspension of the two chairmen followed a resolution of the House read by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey, after taking reports from Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Public Petitions; Mr Victor Ekwere, and that of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Mark Esset.
The Speaker said the House resolution was based on Section 81 (1) of the Local Government Administration Law (2017) as amended, which says “where the peaceful functioning of the Local Government or its Council is hindered by protracted crisis, the House of Assembly may, by a resolution passed by a simple majority of all its members, impose such restrictive measures in the Local Government Area or its Council as the House of Assembly may deem fit.”
The House resolved that the two Chairmen be suspended indefinitely and the vice chairmen should takeover the running of the respective councils pending completion of investigations on allegations levelled against them.
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Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Barrister Aniefiok Dennis, said the action taken by was backed the House resolution with Section 12, Sub-One (a) of the Local Government Administration Law, which “gives the House of Assembly the power to direct inquiry or investigation to any matter or thing with respect to which it has power to make laws.”
He also said the “action of the House is also enshrined in Section 128 of the 1999 Constitution as well as in Order Nine, Rule One (a) of the House Standing Order, which gives the House power to oversight the Local Government Councils.”
The House immediately empowered the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and an Ad-Hoc Committee to look into the allegations and report back to the House within one month.
The Ad-Hoc Committee responsible for Nsit Atai matter has Sir Udo Kierian Akpan (Chairman), Barrister Aniefiok Dennis (Secretary), Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Ekpenyong, Rt. Hon. Nse Essien, Rt. Hon. Asuquo Archibong, Hon. Victor Ekwere, Rt. Hon. David Lawrence, Barrister Otobong Bob, and Rt. Hon. Aniekan Uko as members.
However, the House Committee for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs remains the Committee responsible for the investigation of alleged gross misconduct of the Chairman of Uyo Local Government Council.
