August 26, (THEWILL) – The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Akwa Ibom State Branch, has called on members of the Seventh Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly to invoke Section 100(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended) and pass into Law Bills passed and forwarded to Governor Udom Emmanuel for assent but which have failed to see the light of day.
Several of the Bills have been delayed beyond the constitutionally permissible period of 30 days.
The call was made by the Human Rights organisation at the Stakeholders Meeting organised by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Health on two Bills, namely: “A Bill for a Law to Prohibit Stigmatization and Discrimination against People Living with HIV/AIDS and to Regulate the Practice of HIV/AIDS Counselling and Testing and for other Matters Connected Therewith” and “A Bill for a Law to Establish Akwa Ibom State Health Insurance Agency and for other Matters Connected Thereto.”
The CLO’s presentation, which was signed by its State Chairman and State Secretary, Otuekong Franklyn Isong and Comrade (Barr.) Christopher Ekpo, respectively, noted with dismay that the Governor withheld assent to many laudable and people-oriented Bills passed by the House of Assembly without the requisite constitutional action by the House of Assembly pursuant to Section 100(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
CLO listed such Bills to include the Akwa Ibom State College of Science and Technology Bill; the Customary Courts Bill; the Akwa Ibom Youth Development Fund Bill (AKYDF); among others.
It therefore urged the State House of Assembly to invoke the provision of Section 100(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and pass such Bills into law for the benefit of the State.
CLO urged the Governor to give his assent to the Bills once they are passed by the State House of Assembly and forwarded to him.
