A’Ibom Assembly withdraws Council Chairmen residency bill

Ini Billie, Uyo

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has withdrawn the bill that would compel Local Government Chairmen to reside in their council areas during their tenure in office.

Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong ordered the withdrawal of the Executive Bill which was on cue for a second reading on the floor of the house during plenary on Tuesday.

Sponsor of the bill, Deputy Leader, Rt. Hon. Otobong Effiong Bob filed a motion for the withdrawal of the bill without giving reasons, which was seconded by the Chief Whip, Rt. Hon. Effiong Johnson.

However, three other Executive bills successfully scaled second reading on the floor of the House, as such, the Speaker, Udeme Otong, referred them to relevant House Committees for further legislative action.

They include, “A bill for a law to make Special Provisions for Statutory Boards in Akwa Ibom State; and for connected purposes; “HAB 310 has to do with a bill for a law to establish the Akwa Ibom State Bureau of Statistics and Akwa Ibom State Statistical System and for Other Matters connected therewith as well as the HAB 312’ bill for a law to establish Ibom Peace Corps and for connected purposes”.

The bill on the statutory boards seeks to enact a law that would convey some corporate status on the boards of commission, agencies, corporations, and other bodies established by laws of the State, among others, while the Bureau of Statistics bill seeks to establish a bureau that would serve as the main state agency responsible for the development and management of official statistics.

The Peace Corps bill seeks to establish a body that would complement the job security agencies in the state.