AKHA Frowns At Traditional Injunctions By Village Heads

In a move to curb excesses of most village heads in the state on indiscriminate traditional injunctions placed on boundaries or land of people, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has waded in to check the abuse.

Consequently, the House last Tuesday frowned at the incessant traditional injunctions by traditional rulers, saying that such could hinder economic development of the area.

In a motion sponsored by a member representing Nsit Atai State Constituency in the House, Hon. Mark Esset argued that traditional injunctions on land will discourage economic growth in the area, thereby defeating the essence of enacting laws aimed at making land available for development.

Hon. Esset solicited the support of other members in the House to condemn in totality the spate of abuse on the land, and called on the government to beam their searchlights on the activities of village heads in a bid to regulate their activities.

Responding, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Uko referred the motion to the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs/Lands and Town Planning for appropriate scrutiny.

In another development, the Managing Director of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) ordered by Akwa Ibom House of Assembly to appear and explain outrageous electricity bills given to people in the state is yet to honour the resolution.

The Managing Director, who was supposed to appear before the executive session of the House on December 8 could not appear owing to his oversea’s trip.

 An official letter forwarded to the Speaker of the House and read by the Clerk of the House, Mrs. Mandu Umoren said the man had travelled outside the country as at the time of the resolution.

However, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Uko has directed him to appear before the House anytime he returns to the country.

Three week ago, the House presided over by the Speaker had frowned at the outrageous electricity bills charged Akwa Ibom people and ordered the management team of PHEDC to appear on Tuesday, December 8, this year before the House during its executive session for clarification.

The House reasoned “Since 2001 Akwa Ibom has invested heavily in the generation of electricity to ensure its citizens enjoy power supply at a reasonable cost”.

A member representing Onna State Constituency in the House, Hon. Nse Essien, who brought the motion on the arbitrary bills to the House, explained that the state government has invested enormously in the project, saying that has been granted licence to generate 685 megawatts capacity though it is offloading about 113 megawatts to the national grid.

The law maker, who lamented that it is cheaper in some cases to use generating plant than pay the electricity bill, however commended Governor Udom Emmanuel for his contributions to the improvement of power supply in the state.

He, therefore, called on the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Federal Government to take its regulatory role seriously and adhere to best practices in accordance with  the provisions of Consumer Protection Act.