Misconduct: Akwa Ibom Assembly suspends 2 council Chairmen

By ISAIAH EKA

The Akwa Ibom House of Assembly at plenary on Friday suspended indefinitely, two Local Government Chairmen over alleged gross misconduct and administrative inefficiency.

The suspended council chairmen are Mrs Emem Ibanga of Nsit Atai Local Government Area (LGA) and Mr Imo Okon of Uyo LGA.

The house subsequently directed the Vice Chairmen of the affected council areas, Mr Idorenyin Inyang (Nsit Atai) and Mr Ukai Emmanuel (Uyo) to take over immediately.

The suspension followed the house resolution on the petition submitted by the Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Public Petitions, Mr Victor Ekwere, and that of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affair, Mr Mark Esset.

The Speaker, Aniekan Bassey, said the resolution was based on Section 81 (1) of the Local Government Administration Law, 2017 as amended.

Bassey directed the committee on local government and chieftaincy affairs and an ad-hoc committee to look into the allegations and submit the report to the house within one month.

Ibanga was accused of inefficient disbursement of funds appropriated to the council by the house, and non-release of official vehicle to his vice.

On his part, Okon was accused of not complying with the Governor’s directives on the welfare of the council officials and refusal to appear before the committee on local government and chieftaincy affairs on invitation.

He was also alleged to have mismanaged the finances and administration of Uyo local government council.

Addressing journalists shortly after the plenary, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Mr Aniefiok Akpan, said the action of the house was in line with Section 128 of the 1999 Constitution. (NAN)