LEGISLATURE

HON. IME OKON MARKS SECOND ANNIVERSARY, CHATS JOURNALISTS 


By Julius Nsikak 

Explicit News Magazine 





The Member of the House of Representatives, Itu-Ibiono Ibom Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Ime Bassey Okon, hosted members of the press, including representatives from the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Conference of Online Publishers Akwa Ibom (COOPA), in a media chat Monday, June 16, 2025, to commemorate his second year in office and outline his achievements.


The federal lawmaker described the chat as a friendly discussion, thanking journalists for joining him in commissioning and inspecting projects across Itu and Ibiono Ibom Federal Constituency and for their efforts in propagating his activities in the public domain. 



He reassured his commitment to partnering with journalists in Akwa Ibom State, noting that he would foster more effective representation and facilitate projects that promote economic growth at the grassroots level, giving his people a sense of belonging.


During the chat, Hon. Okon highlighted his achievements in his second year, including road, empowerment, welfare, and infrastructure projects. 


Some of the completed and ongoing projects include:

Construction of a furnished six-classroom block at Technical School, Ayadehe, and a four-classroom block with toilet facilities at Presbyterian Church of Nigeria Primary School, Efi-North Itam, Itu Local Government Area;

Construction of 1.5km Joshua Uwah Street, including installation of solar-powered street lights and drainage system, in Mbak Itam III, Itu LGA;

Commissioning of an ultra-modern 450-capacity Civic Centre in Idoro and ongoing construction of a 1000-capacity Civic Centre in Nkwa, Ibiono Ibom LGA; Installation of solar-powered street lights in Ikot Obio Enang, Ikot Edok, and Ikpa Ikot Ubo/Ikot Usen, Ibiono Ibom LGA and Itu LGA; and Provision of solar-powered boreholes, roads with drainage and lighting, and digital tools.





Educational support through bursaries to over 300 students, including 18 Law School students; Free Medical Outreach in Itu and Ibiono Ibom LGAs; Empowerment through donation of cars, scholarships to children of deceased political stakeholders, and medical and welfare support to over 800 constituents; and Facilitation of employment opportunities in federal and state agencies, including the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Nigeria Police Force, and Federal Fire Service.


In legislation, the federal lawmaker said he had sponsored and co-sponsored eight bills and motions, including:

A bill to establish the Metallurgical and Material Engineers and Scientist Registration Board of Nigeria.

A bill to establish the Biomedical Engineers and Scientist Registration Board.


Motions on the urgent rehabilitation of the Calabar-Itu-Ikot Ekpene Road;

A bill to amend the Companies and Allied Matters Act Cap C20 Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004; A Motion on the need to Investigate Career Stagnation Caused by Discrimination Between Higher National Diploma (HND) and Bachelor Degree Holders in the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.


A Motion on the urgent need to Rehabilitate and Discongest Nigeria Correctional Centre; Co-sponsored a Motion for the Inspector-General to intensify efforts for the release of abducted corps members; and 

A bill to amend the Industrial Training Fund Act Cap. 19 (No 47 of 1971), (Amendment) Bill, 2023.





As Vice Chairman of the Committee on Inter-Governmental Affairs and member of several other committees, Hon. Okon has effectively undertaken his constitutional responsibilities, while been co-opted into three additional committees, including Procurement, Basic Education, and Interior.


Dispelling a misconception, Hon. Okon clarified that the 2025 constituency project allocation was ₦1 billion per member for constituency projects, compared to the 2024 allocation of ₦200 million. 


Furthermore, he emphasised that lawmakers only nominate projects, while executions are carried out by relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) without any cash directly given to lawmakers. 





Continuing, the national assembly member maintained that the projects executed in his federal constituency are worth ₦1.7 billion, exceeding the allocated fund, while disclosed plans to undertake a mega empowerment programme later in the year for his constituents.


Speaking, Chairman of NUJ, Akwa Ibom State Council, Comrade Amos Etuk, concluded by commending the federal lawmaker for being the first member of the National Assembly to host journalists in a chat and extolling him for his excellent representation and for the tangible projects engendered in the constituency.





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