The primary responsibility of a legislator is lawmaking. This comes in the form of sponsoring Bills. The legislator can further affect the government's policy drives through motions, petitions, and through oversight functions.

As the member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency since 2015, Rep. Sam Onuigbo's efforts in the areas of legislation have been driven by the needs of his constituents, and the general clamour of Nigerians. In this vein, he has been able to do the following:
Bills
 
1.  Climate Change Act, 2021.

2. A Bill for the amendment of the Flags and Coat of Arms Act.

3. A Bill for the amendment of the Federal University of Agriculture Umudike. Establishment Act.

4. Chartered Institute of Econometricians and Data Analysts (Establishment) Bill, 2022
 
Motions and Petitions
 
i. Motion on the need for the urgent reconstruction of the Umuahia – Ikwuano – Ikot Ekpene federal road.

ii.  Motion on the need to check the admission of students into tertiary institutions for courses not accredited/approved by the National University Commission (NUC): The motion was aimed at saving students and parents the agony of wasting their time and resources studying for courses without getting certificates at the end of the journey.

iii. Motion on the need to stop the deconstruction of Nigeria’s National Flag: This is a national issue aimed at ending the strange and disturbing act of superimposing the Coat of Arms of Nigeria on the white section of the Nigerian Flag.

iv. Motion on a matter of urgent public importance on the need to immortalize two former national football coaches, Stephen Keshi, and Amodu Shuaibu who passed on: This followed the death of both Stephen Keshi and Shuaibu Amodu, with the revelation that despite the selfless services of the two great sportsmen and gaffers, the government was owing them heavily.

v.  Petition on the wrongful dismissal of over 300 Diamond Bank staff without due process: Here, he urged the House to take appropriate steps to ensure that the Bank pays the dismissed staff their full benefits.
 
vi. Petition on the wrongful termination of the employment of some employees of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

vii.  Motion on the need for the Federal Government to reverse the Presidential directive to scale down non-agricultural programmes from the curriculum of Federal Universities of Agriculture: This motion was aimed at reversing the illegal directive to delist Management Science courses from Universities of Agriculture especially the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. The Honourable Member followed this up with several consultations with stakeholders both within Abia State, and at the national level, while also engaging the media extensively.

viii. Motion on a matter of urgent public importance (Order 8, Rule 4) to call on the Federal Government to immediately take actions to prevent a calamity waiting to happen in Umunwanwa, Umuopara, in Umuahia South LGA of Abia State: This motion was initiated to get the backing of the House in the Federal Lawmaker’s efforts at ensuring that the Federal Government and its agencies take urgent action to address the life-threatening Umunwanwa erosion.

ix. Motion on the need to intervene in the case of attacks and the gruesome murder of four indigenes of Usaka Ukwu in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State by armed indigenes of Ibono Okporo, Nkari in Ini Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State in order to prevent a bloodbath: Moved on the 14th of July 2020 on the floor of the House of Representatives, the motion sought to get the Federal Government to mandate security agencies to step in and prevent further bloodshed in the boundary dispute between the two communities, ensure that the National Boundary Commission is sent to properly demarcate the boundaries, while also ensuring that relief materials are provided for the displaced.
 
Global Efforts for Local Impacts

One of the key aspects of Rep. Sam Onuigbo’s representation at the House of Representatives was his drive towards pushing conversations at the global level to address the outcomes of climate change such as poverty, loss of livelihood means, land degradation, erosion, and indeed all aspects of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In addition, he relentlessly pushed for energy transition using renewables to address Nigeria’s electricity/energy issues so as to provide power to drive industrialisation for his people. In these areas, he excelled immensely and became the rallying point for action by African legislators at the international level. 
To this end then, he has participated and chaired a number of international engagements aimed at initiating international collaboration to address critical issues such as funding for clean energy provision; provision of clean cook stoves for rural women to safeguard them from the health risks of cooking with hazardous fuel wood; commitment towards provision of funding for climate change adaptation (which includes erosion control efforts, alternative farming methods; etc.); etc.
Consequently then, Onuigbo's global efforts include:

a.  His Climate Change Act slots in nicely and provides impetus for Nigeria's Energy Transition Plan.

b. His Climate Change Act and its provision for the establishment of the National Council on Climate Change offers employment opportunities for many.

c. Rep. Onuigbo raised the important issue of the provision of clean cooking options for community women to safeguard their health at an International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) event in Abu Dhabi. Upon his return, he went a step further by providing clean cook stove for community women leaders from his constituency.

d. On November 8-10, 2022, Rep. Onuigbo chaired the GLOBE COP-27 Legislators Summit in Cairo. During this period, he chaired a panel focused on restoring degraded lands and promoting climate-smart agricultural practices for improved food yield. The panel had in attendance, Hon Barry Gardner MP (British Parliament), Senator Rosa Galvez (Canadian Senate), Prof. Wadid Erian (University of Cairo) and Senator Raul Bolanos-Cacho Cue (Mexican Senate).

e. On the 22nd of September, 2016, Rep. Onuigbo represented in the legislature as a witness as President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR signed the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, at the Headquarters of the United Nations, New York.


As the representative of the good people of Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency, Rep .Onuigbo has been a very active and visible lawmaker celebrated both at home, nationally, and globally, for his unparalleled commitment to getting results. This is the passion that he will bring to Abia Central.