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The Abia State House of Assembly has given the green light to five important bills, whittled down from an initial 15 proposals introduced during its first 12 months in office. This accomplishment points to the assembly’s dedication to shaping the state’s future under.
During a media address on Thursday, Speaker Emmanuel Emeruwa reflected on the legislature’s accomplishments, notably the enactment of five key laws, since its inception on June 14, 2023.
Emeruwa spotlighted the legislature’s accomplishments, including the passage of five critical bills: the 2023 and 2024 appropriation bills, the creation of the Greater Aba Development Authority, a revamp of the Governor and Deputy Governor’s pension scheme, and the Medicine and Health Commodities Regulation Act.
Speaker Emeruwa assured that the remaining bills are progressing smoothly, with some having already cleared the first or second reading hurdle, and will receive final approval in the near future. He also highlighted the House’s impressive productivity, having addressed 46 petitions, debated 55 motions, and adopted 50 resolutions during the same period. Notably, the passage of the bills into law was achieved without dissent, thanks to pre-floor agreements among lawmakers.
“Our interest is to reform the state and create enabling environment for businesses to grow,” he said, adding that this mindset informed the maximum support the lawmakers have been giving to the state governor, Alex Otti.The Speaker, flanked by 17 members of the House, including the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Austin Okezie, acknowledged that the Eighth Abia State legislature had initial hiccups after inauguration.
However, he said that the divisive “issues were short-lived” as members had resolved them without delay in the interest of the people they represent.
He said: “The fact that we do our things seamlessly doesn’t mean that we don’t disagree. But we play our politics behind the scene”.
It’s been a year since the Eighth Abia House was inaugurated, but its members are still waiting for their official vehicles. Emuwa points to Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company as the culprit behind the delay.
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According to him, the House had decided to patronise IVM following Governor Otti’s policy of encouraging indigenous companies, adding that the company “has received all the money for the vehicles (but) has not been able to supply the vehicles after one year”.
He, therefore, issued a two-week ultimatum to Innoson to supply the vehicles as agreed, warning that “this House has been patient enough. He has to produce the vehicles within the month or give us our money back”.
The House is still awaiting the representation of Aba North, but the Speaker has signaled a potential resolution. Hon. Aaron Uzodike’s long-delayed swearing-in is expected to move forward once a political solution is reached, ending the constituency’s prolonged absence from the legislative body.
The Speaker distanced himself from the controversy surrounding Hon. Uzodike’s delayed inauguration, explaining that a date had been set for the Aba North representative to take his oath of office following his Appeal Court victory. However, a surprise interlocutory injunction threw a wrench in those plans.
“I could not flout Court injunction, whether it was in order or not,” the Speaker Emeruwa said, adding that Uzodike compounded issues by going to Appeal Court Abuja to file forms 48 and 49 seeking to commit him to prison for alleged disobedience of court order.
According to the Deputy Speaker, the House’s driving force has always been a steadfast commitment to improving the lives of Abia’s residents, with every action taken aimed at delivering the fruits of democracy.
“We handle our differences behind the scene because we understand the enormity of the expectations on us,” he said, adding that “once we cross the gate, we see ourselves as one, irrespective of party platforms”.
