Bills To Establish More Universities In Abia State Passes First Reading

During plenary of the 7th Abia state house of Assembly held on Monday 7th February, 2022, the house following a bill sponsored by The Majority Leader, Hon Solomon Akpulonu for a Law to provide for the conversion of the Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, to University of Aba and for other related purposes and bill for a Law to Establish the Abia State University of Medical and Healh Management Technology and for other related purposes sponsored by Hon Thomas A.C. Nkoro.

A motion to this effect was seconded by the Deputy Whip of the House and Member representing Umuahia North state constituency (Ohuhu), Hon Kelechi Onuzuruike after which the Speaker put it up for vote. The Bill passed First Reading.

At the plenary the Speaker, Rt Hon. Chinedum Orji also announced that Hon Justice Okey Ikechukwu Nwamuo had interacted with House members in the Executive session and that members had mandated him to announce the confirmation of Hon Justice Nwamuo as President, Court of Appeal, Abia State.

The house also considered a bill for a Law to provide for the Establishment, Operations and Functions of the Abia State Watershed Management Agency and for other Matters Related therewith. Following a motion raised by Hon Solomon Akpulonu for the bill to pass Second Reading. The motion was seconded by Hon Ginger Onwusibe (Isialangwa North), and after it was put to vote, the Bill passed Second Reading. Hon Chinedum Orji, the Speaker of the house, therefore called on the Deputy Whip, Hon Kelechi Onuzuruike sponsor of the Bill, to lead the debate.

In leading the debate, Hon Onuzuruike pointed out the merits of converting ABIA NEWMAP to an AGENCY - ABIA STATE AGENCY FOR EROSION CONTROL AND WATWRSHED MANAGEMENT: He argued that as the World Bank hands off from funding erosion control activities under NEWMAP as a project, transiting to an AGENCY is a pre-condition to benefit from funding by the European investment bank for the next two years. He stated that the work of NEWMAP as assisted by the World Bank was a pilot programme through which the state must have built capacity for global best practices on erosion control methods. He added that with the Agency, the state will continue with work on erosion control and watershed management in the state. The deputy chief Whip added that there are over 300 identified gullies in the state that requires attention.

Hon. Onuzuruike further stated that as an agency, it will have the power to address all other forms of environmental degradation and be a one-stop point for all such interventions in the state. "It will act as a statutory body that can go into liaison with other multilateral bodies globally to address challenges of environmental degradation. As it will serve as a platform for capacity building of Abia state civil servants based on lessons learnt while operating as a project" he stated.

Contributing to the debate, Hon Jerry Uzosike, member representing Umuahia South state constituency adduced that the World Bank recently announced that NEWMAP will close in the first quarter of 2022 and that for the state to continue enjoying the benefits of the agency, she needs to domesticate the NEWMAP Law. He also said that the already trained staff of NEWMAP will be inherited by the agency to be created by the state NEWMAP rather than allow them back to the respective offices they were deployed from.

On his part, Hon Ginger Onwusibe representing Isiala Ngwa North state constituency in also supporting the motion said anything that could be done to tackle erosion and other environmental issues in the state should be done expeditiously.

While Hon A.C. Nkoro representing Obingwa West state constituency also supported the Bill saying watershed management is a process and not anything that should be done haphazardly but be backed by a Law.

While summarizing the debate the Speaker, Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji said having listened to the arguments canvassed for the Bill, it becomes expedient to commit it to the Committee of the Whole.