FIC Report (Abia State) – Member representing Isiala Ngwa North and Member elect of Isiala Ngwa North and South Federal Constituency , Hon. Ginger Onwusibe has stated vehemently that the House of Assembly should not be in a hurry to pass HAB 54 into law
Onwusibe made the assertion during the consideration of the Bill, which is a Bil for a law to provide for the conversion of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba to Aba State University and other purposes which passed through second reading today during plenary.
Countering the Bill, Onwusibe said it is inappropriate for the outgoing House to start laying milestones for the incoming House but should accelerate payment of workers salaries.
According to Onwusibe he said, the Bill would have scaled through if it were to be in other states where things are normal. He said “Abia State is an abnormal state where workers including academic and none academic staff are being owed up to 36 months salaries, that the present government should be thinking of how to pay off their debts which the 7th House should encourage”.
He further pointed out that the State polytechnic is in shambles as many things are not going on as expected with many of her graduands who have not been able to go for their National Youth Service programs as he advised the House not to be in a hurry to pass the Bill into Law.
However, While explaining the importance of the Bill, the sponsor, Honorable Solomon Akpulonu said if passed into Law, it will be of great importance to the State more especially people in Aba as Abia State University is the only conventional University in the State.
In a similar opinions, the new Deputy Speaker of the State House who is representing Ohafia North, Rt Hon. Mandela Obasi, member representing Umuahia South State Constituency, Hon. Jerry Uzosike, member representing Aba Central, Abraham Oba among others, respectively stated that the Aba being the heart of business in Abia deserves to have a university so that business men there can easily acquire more knowledge without going as far as Uturu, that it will as well not require much to build since the polytechnic already has some structures and properties.
Furthermore, The Speaker Rt Hon. Chinedum Orji said for him, the Bill should not be only a government ownership as the government is already overburdened with many things but that there should also be a way of introducing private partnership as he referred it for a Public hearing headed by Jerry Uzosike to be reversed back to the house within a week.
State House Correspondent, Okugo Mabel reports that the House adjourned to reconvene on Tuesday 9th May, 2023, by 10am.
