House of Assembly committee thumbs up Etinan Council Chairman

Following a call by the governor, Pastor Umo Eno on the 31 Local Government Transition Chairmen to submit their scorecard in the last five months, the Akwa Ibom state House of Assembly committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs visited Etinan Local Government Area on Monday, 20th May 2024 in continuation of its oversight function.

The Assembly’s Committee led by its chairman, Mfon Idung, has the mandate of the House to review the activities of the chairmen in the last five months and submit its report to the House for onward transmission to the governor to justify their continuous stay in office as demanded by the governor in a letter to the assembly seeking extension of tenure for the chairmen and members of the committee.

This extension is to give the state government and Akwa Ibom Independent State Electoral Commission (AKISIEC) time to conduct local government election later in the year.

Speaking on arrival at the Council’s Secretariat, the Assembly’s committee chairman noted with satisfaction the ambiance at the council and commended the Uko Umoh’s commitment to a clean and safe work environment.

Presenting his scorecard, the chairman, Uko Umoh, listed his achievements to include restoration of public power supply to the council secretariat after 13 years of darkness, drilling of water borehole and supply of water within the council secretariat, free medical and surgical outreach for hundreds of indigenes, recovery of council’s grading machine and grading of 96 kilometers of rural roads across the local government area.

Other achievements listed by the council chairman include buying of UTME forms for 200 students and educational grants to 20 indigent students from the area, presentation of tricycle, clutches and business grants to people living with disabilities, business grants to some small scale business women, cultivation of over five hectares of land to boost food sufficiency.

The chairman also listed an in house capacity building workshop for members of the transition committee, partnership with Nigeria hunters and forest security service for the protection of critical infrastructure in the area as well as support of 10 trips of sand and 100 bags of cement towards the construction of the Paramount Ruler’s palace.

“Barely six months ago, we were selected through the benevolence of our dear Governor, His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno to mount the saddle of leadership in Etinan. Today, we are glad that you all are here to witness the tremendous live-touching projects we have embarked upon Mr. Chairman all our activities here at the council is tailored in line with the ARISE Agenda of Governor Umo Eno”

Responding the chairman of the House of Assembly’s committee, Mfon Idung, who spoke on behalf of visiting lawmakers, described Uko Umoh as a former critic of people in government and commended him for making full proof of the opportunity to sit Etinan local government area pretty among performing LGAs.

According to the committee chairman, “The environment is friendly and I am impressed with what I have seen. We have a friendly Governor who wants to see people happy and all local government transition committee chairmen should perform well. We will do the needful by sending our reports to the Governor.” The House Committee chairman said.

Speaking with Kristina Reports on the sideline, the director, Center for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN) Franklin Isong puts the chairman of Etinan local government area among the performing council chairmen in the state.

He noted that the oversight function of the assembly is in partnership with the CHRAN, saying, the accountability group is impressed with the performance of Uko Umoh’s led Committee in Etinan.