EXPLICIT MAGAZINE

 A'IBOM ASSEMBLY PASSES HIV/AIDS ANTI - STIGMA BILL By Julius Nsikak Speaker Otong During a recent legislative session of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, a landmark bill prohibiting stigma and discrimination against individuals living with HIV/AIDS gained passage into law. The "Bill for a Law to Prohibit Stigmatisation and Discrimination Against People Living with HIV/AIDS, Counselling and Testing and for Other Matters Connected Therewith" was passed following the adoption of the report by the Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Hon. Comrade Moses Essien, who also represents  Ibiono Ibom State Constituency in the  eighth Assembly. Hon. Essien submitting Health committee's report The bill, which had undergone a second reading, was referred to the Committee on Health for thorough scrutiny.  Presenting his report, the Committee Chairman, Essien, revealed that a public hearing was held, Wednesday, 4 September 2024, gathering inputs from stakeholders and the...

 A'IBOM ASSEMBLY PASSES TRC 3RD AMENDMENT BILL Speaker, Rt. Hon. Otong Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly (AKHA) has given an accelerated hearing to a bill for a law to further amend the Traditional Rulers Law Cap 155 Law of Akwa Ibom State 2022 (as amended).  The Speaker, Rt. Hon.(Elder) Udeme Otong, who presided over plenary directed the Clerk to read the Executive bill at plenary on Friday, September 20, 2024. The bill which captured 11 section amendments was received by the House for legislative consideration after the Member for Eket State Constituency, Hon. Nsidibe Akata moved for its receipt and was seconded by Hon. Udobia Friday Udo of Esit Eket/Ibeno State Constituency. The bill was given an accelerated hearing as the House dissolved into the Committee of the Whole to consider the amended sections after its second reading.  After legislative scrutiny at the Committee of the Whole, these 11 amendments were upheld stating in part that "the President-General shall be...

 AKHA MOVES TO REGULATE ACTIVITIES OF TBAs  Health committee chairman, Comrade Essien The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly ( AKHA) has passed a resolution urging the Ministry of Health to organize training workshops, capacity building and mentorship programmes for traditional birth attendants to enable them update practices, thereby reducing child birth complications and maternal morbidity in the State. The Resolution of the House which was passed, Wednesday 11th September 2024, is sequel to the adoption of recommendations of the report of the House Committee on Health, submitted by the committee Chairman, Hon. Moses Essien.  The House also directed the Akwa Ibom State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (AKSPHCDA ) to increase supervision on the activities of traditional birth attendants in all local government areas.  Refusal by TBA’s to refer child birth complications early will henceforth be investigated and would be punishable by law. The law recommends for e...

A'IBOM  SET TO REVOLUTIONISE POWER SECTOR WIT NEW REGULATORY BOARD  Committee chairman, Rt. Hon. Udoh  By Julius Nsikak  The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has recently  held a public hearing on a bill to establish an Electricity Regulatory Board.  The Speaker, Rt. Hon Udeme Otong, stated that the bill aims to revolutionise the living  of residents by maximising electricity availability. Represented by the Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon Kufreabasi Edidem, Otong emphasised that the bill seeks to foster rapid growth in power generation capacity and revamp the utilisation of generated power through increased investment in new and efficient power generation technologies. Otong, described electricity as a socio-economic game changer and a key to urbanisation, noting that it can transform villages into cities and micro-industrial hubs.  He urged key power sector players and stakeholders to prioritise the task of revamping the power sector and prove themselve...

AKHA APPROVES 2025-2027 MTEF, FSP FOR AKSG  Eket Lawmaker, Hon. Akata The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly (AKHA) has approved the 2025-2027 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) for the Executive's implementation. The approval was sequel to the adoption of the report by the Chairman, House Committee on Economic Planning and Development, Hon. Nsidibe Akata during Thursday's Plenary.  The Chief Whip of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Effiong Johnson, moved a motion for the adoption of the report and seconded by a two-term member for IKono State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Asuquo Nana Udo.  The House, which dissolved into a Committee of the Whole, approved that the macro-economic assumptions used for 2025-2027 medium Expenditure Framework (MTEF) be adopted for approval. At plenary, it was noted that the tentative budget size of N777,703,510,574 for this fiscal year as presented, be given approval, urging the State Government to be realistic in the fore...