CHRAN, AKROIMA’s failure and Umo Eno’s Bill on Asset Management
-AKROIMA has failed in its responsibilities
– Umo Eno’s Bill on Assets Management irrelevant and distraction to the House
By Moses Tom
A Publi Hearing on “A Bill for a Law to Establish the Akwa Ibom State Infrastructure and Assets Management and Maintenance Agency, and for other matters connected therewith” held on Friday, 23th February, 2023, has opened a can of worms on the failure of Akwa Ibom State Roads and Other Infrastructure Maintenance Agency, AKROIMA.
The Public Hearing was organised by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Special Projects, Monitoring and Implementation.
Expectedly, the Hearing also attracted mixed reactions from stakeholders who dismissed the Bill as irrelevant.
Among the Objectives of the Bill sent to House by Governor Umo Eno is to provide for the effective preservation and maintenance of assets owned or controlled by the State Government.
Other are to provide a uniform management framework for sustainability, efficiency and accountability in the use and the management of such assets; and ensure coordination in the use of assets within the service delivery objectives of the State Government.
Unfortunately, the Chairman of AKROIMA, Prince Godwin Ntuk Udeh awaken the sleeping dogs when he raised issues of ambiguity and duplication of functions between the proposed Agency and AKROIMA.
But some stakeholders at the event submitted that Dr. Ntuk Udeh lacks moral justification to complain given the level of failure his Agency has witnessed over the years
The Director of Center for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN) Otuekong Franklyn Isong, opened the can of worms.
Consequently, Otuekong Isong maintained that AKROIMA has failed to deliver on its mandate to the people.
The civil society group helmsman also urged Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly to probe the activities of Agency.
“The Centre also observes that the Agency sought to be established by the Bill is similar to and shares commonality with the Akwa Ibom State Roads and Other Infrastructure Maintenance Agency (AKROIMA).
“The CHRAN notes that AKROIMA appears to have failed, with the result that State roads are riddled with potholes while the AKROIMA operational site in Ibiaku Ishiet, Uruan local government area is overgrown with weeds and filled with abandoned and vandalised heavy equipment, including tractors, caterpillars, trailers, tippers, etc.
“The CHRAN fears that the Agency proposed in the current Bill, the subject matter of this Public Hearing, duplicates and conflicts with AKROIMA.
“CHRAN is of the strong view that AKROIMA has failed in its functions and urges the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly to direct a probe into the activities of AKROIMA.
“The CHRAN is of the opinion that this Bill should not be used as a gloss to cover the failure of AKROIMA.
“CHRAN urges government to take note of existing agencies, Bills and Laws before introducing new Bills.
“The CHRAN notes the dearth and decay of infrastructure in various key Agencies of Government of Akwa Ibom State like the Akwa Ibom State Fire Service and urges urgent attention by the government,” Otuekong Isong posited.
CHRAN, however, observed that Section 4 of the said Executive Bill, which deals with Health, Safety and Environment Policy, was in conflict with the purpose and objectives of another Bill before the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly titled: “A Bill for a Law to Establish the Akwa Ibom State Safety Commission and for Connected Matters”, which has passed through First Reading.
In the face of the conflict between the two Bills, CHRAN urged the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly to reconsider the two Bills with a view to addressing the anomaly to enable both Bills operate without conflict.
In his submission, the Akwa Ibom State Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Sunday James, described the Bill unnecessary and distraction to the House of Assembly.
The NLC chairperson regretted that such Executive Bill comes at a time President Tinibu is deleting Agencies and Departments working against themselves.
He regretted that Governor Umo Eno would spend his time and resources on such Bill in times like these rather than focus on worker-connected Bills and initiatives.
Declaring the Public Hearing opened, the chairman, House Committee on Special Projects, Monitoring and Implementation, Hon. Uwem Peter Imoh-Ita, noted that Public Hearing was meant to sample public opinion on socio-political and administrative issues before the House of Assembly.
The Speaker, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong, represented by the member representing Ika/Etim Ekpo State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Mfon Idung, struggled to convince stakeholders that the Bill is not only important but also critical to entrenching maintenance culture in our state as a key component of Governor Umo Eno’s Golden Era.
The Public Hearing had in attendance Clerk of the House, Mrs. Nsikak-Abasi Orok, and other members of the House.
They include Rt. Hon. Otobong Bob; Rt. Hon. Asuquo Nana Udo; Hon. Moses Essien; Hon. Bassey Bassey; Hon. Itoro Etim.
Others are Hon. Selinah Ukpatu; Hon. Uduak Ekpo-Ufot; Hon. Eric Akpan; Hon. Udobia Udo, and Hon. Aniefiok Attah.
Other participants were: the representative of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice; the representatives of the Nigerian Bar Association and Policy Alert.
