By Mfonobong Ukpong
Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has received a petition against the
Transition Committee Chairman of Itu Local Government Transition
Committee, Mrs. Elsie Esara. The petition which is signed by three
Supervisors in the Transition Committee, including Mr. Ubong Edem,
Supervisor for Works, Kufre Emah, Supervisor for Special Duties and the
Supervisor for Health, Emem Uboh, is accusing
the Transition Chairman of mismanagement of Council funds, especially
the Internally generated revenue accruing to the local government
council.
The Supervisors also accused the council boss of administrative recklessness and lack of due process in the running of the local government Council.
The petition was read on the floor of the House on Tuesday by the Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, Justice, Human Rights and Public Petitions, Hon. Barr. Aniefiok Dennis.
He informed the Speaker and colleagues that the petition was forwarded to his office by the three Supervisors, and that they are praying the House to wade into the matter.
Reacting, the Speaker, Barr. Onofiok Luke referred the petition to the chairman, House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and directed the committee to investigate the matter and report back to the Assembly within a period of two weeks.
He advised the committee to ensure that natural justice prevails while carrying out it's assignment, saying "For natural justice, we must hear from both sides", and mandated the committee to ensure a through investigation into the matter.
Also, the House on Tuesday mandated it's Committee on Justice, Human Rights, Judiciary and Public Petitions to investigate another petition forwarded to the House by an employee with the Akwa Ibom State Judiciary, Edet Archibong Essien, a night watcher who complained that his salary has not been paid for a longer period of time now, and urged the Assembly to intervene with a view of correcting the anomaly.
He wants his employer to pay him arrears of his salary, saying he got employed in 2001 and was due retirement in 2025.
The House sits today, Thursday.
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