Akwa-Ibom Assembly Elects First Female Deputy Speaker

Akwa-Ibom Deputy Speaker, Felicia Bassey

THE lawmaker representing Okobo state constituency and Chair Person, House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Welfare Matters, Mrs. Felicia Bassey, has been elected the Deputy Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.

In a statement in Uyo, yesterday, the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Mr. Kufre Okon, said Bassey emerged the first female Deputy Speaker during Tuesday’s plenary, to replace the former Deputy Speaker, Mr. Effiong Bassey, representing Oron/Udung Uko state constituency, whose election was nullified last week by the Appeal Court in Abuja.

It added that the Speaker, Mr. Onofiok Luke, who administered the oath of office on the new Deputy Speaker charged her to live up to the expectation of the sixth Assembly while discharging her legislative duties.

The statement added that other members who spoke after the plenary described her new office as well deserved, and expressed confidence in her ability to discharge the functions of the office optimally.

Meanwhile, the 2016 Appropriation Bill presented before the House by Governor Udom Emmanuel last Tuesday has passed its second reading on the floor of the House and has been referred to the House Committee on Appropriation and Finance for necessary action.

According to the statement, the lawmakers after deliberating on the general principles and content of the bill concluded that the financial expertise in the structuring of the 2016 budget amidst ongoing economic challenges in the country was laudable.

They added: “The composition of the 2016 budget sent to the House by the Executive reflects that the administration of Governor Emmanuel is truly committed to its industrialization agenda for Akwa Ibom State.”

And as the legislative arm of government, we will make sure that the budget when approved is fully implemented in the interested of our people.”

It added that the Speaker, Luke commended the decision of members on the provisions of the budget, adding, “I want to assure Akwa Ibom people that the sixth Assembly is ready to pass a budget which will reflect their wishes and yearnings.”