AKHA PASSES BILL TO ESTABLISH A'IBOM STATE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, NUNG UKIM, IKONO INTO LAW

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, has passed a Bill for a Law to Establish the Akwa Ibom State College of Science and Technology, Nung Ukim, Ikono, into law.

Recall that the Bill which was brought before the House on Tuesday, December 3, 2019, by the Member representing Ibiono Ibom State Constituency, Hon. Godwin Ekpo, was committed to the House Committee on Education for further legislative action.

Presenting the Committee's Report at Plenary on Tuesday, the Chairman, House Committee on Education and lead sponsor of the Bill, Hon. Godwin Ekpo noted that the Bill seeks to restructure the school curriculum and provide full time courses of study, training and research in applied sciences, technology, business management and other fields of studies as approved by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

He said the Bill is predicated on the need to actualise the dream of the present administration to provide a College dedicated for the training of middle and higher technical manpower to mainstream industrial development efforts.

The Lawmaker further noted that the Bill also seeks to give backing to the College to access the intervention funds from Federal Donor Agencies such as Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), UNESCO, PTDF, etc, for its development, as well as facilitating foreign sponsorship, scholarship, partnership and exchange of academic programmes in various field of studies.

The House after receiving and considering the Report at the Committee of the Whole, passed the Bill into Law, with effect from January 1, 2020.

At Plenary also, the House received a Motion on the Proliferation of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) Sales Outlets Within Residential Areas in Akwa Ibom State: A Ticking Time Bomb Waiting to Explode, sponsored by the Deputy House Leader and Member representing Etinan State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Aniefiok Denis.

Similarly, four Bills, including A Bill for a Law to Make Provision for the Establishment and Administration of Customary Courts and for Related Matters and A Bill for a Law to Establish the Akwa Ibom State Professional Counseling to Conduct Qualifying Examinations and Regulate the Counselling Profession for Related Matters, sponsored by the Member representing Ukanafun State Constituency, Hon. (Dr.) Charity Ido, were read the first time at Plenary.

Other Bills that scaled through First Reading included A Bill for a Law to Establish the Akwa Ibom State Neighborhood Safety Corps Agency for the Regulation and Control of the Safety Corps Activities, to Assist Security Agencies in Maintaining Law and Order in Akwa Ibom State and for Connected Purposes sponsored by the Member representing Uyo State Constituency, Hon. Anietie Eka and A Bill for a Law to Protect the Physically Challenged Persons Against Discrimination and Other Purposes Connected Therewith sponsored by the Deputy Speaker and Member representing Okobo State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Felisha Bassey.

Also, the Akwa Ibom State Urban and Regional Planning Bill, 2019, sponsored by the House Leader and Member representing Oruk Anam State Constituency, Rt. Hon. (Sir) Udo Kierian Akpan, passed through Second Reading and was referred to the House Committee on Environment for in-depth study and necessary legislative actions.

Earlier, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey, while welcoming the lawmakers back from the Christmas and New year break, prayed God for peace, strength and wisdom, to enable them succeed in their legislative engagements.

Meanwhile, the House has adjourned its plenary to Thursday, January 23, 2020 at 10 am.

Press Unit,
Office of the Speaker,
Akwa lbom State House of Assembly.