The Abia State House of Assembly has suspended former Leader of the House and Member representing Obingwa East State Constituency, Hon. Solomon Akpulonu for 14 sitting days.
The House also passed a resolution urging the Governor, Dr Alex Otti to urgently constitute the Assembly Service Commission.
Announcing the developments at the floor of the House during plenary, The Speaker Rt Hon Emmanuel Emeruwa stated that Hon. Akpulonu was suspended for unpaliamentary behaviour and the resolution is in keeping with law No. 8 of the 2019: The Abia State House of Assembly Service Commission Law as passed and assented to by the Immediate past Governor of the State Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu.
According to the Speaker, Hon. Solomon Akpulonu has consistently granted interviews to the press without clearing with the leadership of the House and behaved in disruptive manner during plenary.
He said that the House can no longer tolerate such disruptions and urged members who disagree with other members’ view to do it democratically and in a civil manner.
He further stated that the constitution of the Assembly Service Commission will bring the state inline with the 5th alteration of the 1999 constitution which granted Autonomy to state Houses of Assembly and the Judiciary.
Sponsor of the motion on the constitution of the Assembly Service Commission, Hon. Iheonunekwu Ugochukwu Collins said that the Commission which would be charged with the responsibility of seeing to the welfare of Honourable Members and staff of the Assembly was long overdue and had been constituted in other States of the federation.
He also noted that the development will help the State in creating genuine employment opportunities for its teaming youths.
Mabel Okugo
House of Assembly Correspondent
