Again, Emmanuel Fails to Conduct Local Govt Polls

Okon Bassey in Uyo

Again, the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, has failed to conduct election into the 31 local government areas in the state.

Since coming into office, the governor has been depending on the services of the appointed transition committees to run the affairs of local government councils in the state.

The tenure of the current members of the transition committee expires today, January 4, 2017, but the governor has not been able organise democratically elected officers into the third tier administration.

Yesterday, the state House of Assembly bowed to the request by the governor to extend the tenure of chairmen and members of the 31 local government councils in the state.

The resolution to that effect was passed by the lawmakers authorising the governor to re-appoint members of the local government transition committees for another six months.

Emmanuel, following his inadequacies to conduct the local government elections approached members of the state House of Assembly begging for six months elongation of the present crop of the transition committee members.
The request of the governor was unanimously endorsed by all the members present during plenary with emphasis on the need to conduct local government elections within the six months period.

The lawmakers maintained that if local government elections are conducted, democratically elected leaders would be accountable to the people of their areas which will lead to the development of the grassroots.
Meanwhile, the state Primary Health Care Development Agency Bill 2016 sponsored by the assembly Speaker, Mr. Onofiok Luke, and 12 other lawmakers has passed through second reading.

Speaking on the general principles of the bill, lead sponsor, Luke, said the bill, when passed and signed into law, will not only strengthen the primary healthcare system in the state, but will enable the state to attract funds to the sector.

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