Speech By The Speaker Of The Cross River State House Of Assembly, Rt Hon. Elvert Ayambem To Mark The End Of The Second Legislative Year Of The 10TH Assembly
Protocol
The Deputy Speaker,
Distinguished Honourable Members,
The Press,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
I welcome all of you to this Plenary that marks the end of our Second Legislative year. You would recall that this 10th Assembly was inaugurated on the 13th of June, 2023. We all subscribed to the Oath of Allegiance and Office, and promised to perform our duties faithfully, honestly, and in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered).
Today, I make bold to say that we have lived up to our Constitutional responsibility by making laws for the peace, order and good governance of our dear State.
It is true that God loves this Assembly, having kept us all in good health right from the first legislative session and to the end of the second legislative session.
I wish to equally thank His Excellency, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, Governor of Cross River State for the synergy with this House, in terms of Legislature/Executive relationship and for his timely and prompt assent to Bills passed by this Honourable House. It is also a commendable fact that His Excellency, the Governor, places premium on most of our Resolutions, which are always implemented.
I thank my Honourable colleagues for the co-operation, love and unity that has existed among us; without which most of our achievements would not have been counted. Despite some misunderstandings that we experienced among ourselves in the past, we still continue to forge ahead with a common objective of representing our people well. After all, the beauty of democracy is only when we disagree to agree.
The Clerk and staff of this Assembly are not left out. I acknowledge the fact that as Institutional memories, their efforts have yielded more results in the achievements of this 10th Assembly. On this note, I would take up your agitation for the Implementation of the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS) with His Excellency, the Governor, to give approval as provided in the Cross River State House of Assembly Service Commission Law of 2020. This is in recognition of the enormous and tedious work performed by you beyond the usual daily eight hours of work applicable to other civil servants in the State, and the fact that almost all States in the South-South have implemented the Salary Structure for their Legislative workers.
*Staff Welfare and Recruitment*
One of the modest achievements of this Assembly is the upward review of allowances paid to both permanent and Adhoc staff. This is a fulfilment of my promise to always ensure that our staff are fairly treated.
It is also worthy of mention that His Excellency, graciously granted approval for the recruitment of one hundred staff to cure the problem of shortage of manpower in the Assembly. I would like to congratulate the newly employed staff and urge them all to be hardworking and diligent in your duties.
*Legislative Achievements*
*Bills* – In the aspect of Bills, the House passed the following Bills, of which some have been assented to by His Excellency, the Governor.
1.Cross River State Security Trust Fund Bill, 2024
2.Cross River State Supplementary Appropriation Bill, 2024
3.Cross River State Forestry Research Institute (Establishment) Bill, 2024
4.Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2024
5.Cross River State Records and Archives Bill, 2024
6.Cross River State Green Economy Commission Bill, 2024
7.Cross River State Climate Change Bill, 2024
8.Cross River State University of Education and Entrepreneurship Bill, 2024
9.Cross River State College of Agriculture Bill, 2024
10.Cross River State Appropriation Bill, 2025
11.Cross River State University of Education and Entrepreneurship Law
14th Nov. 2024
12.Cross River State Customary Court of Appeal*amendment) Law 2024
28th Sept. 2024
13.Cross River State Security Trust Funds Amendment Law
15th June, 2024
14.Cross River State Records and Archives Bureau Law
10th Sept. 2024
15.Cross River State Waters Supply and Sanitation Law
14th Aug. 2024
16.Cross River State Forest Research Institute
29th Aug. 2024
17.Cross River State Traffic Management and Regulatory Agency (Amendment) Law 2024
14th Feb. 2024
18.Presumptive Tax Law in Cross River State
December, 2024
19.Cross River State Fire Fighting and Rescue Service Law 2024
2nd May, 2024
20.Appropriation Amendment Law
23rd Dec. 2024
21.Rural Access Road Authority Bill, 2025
28th May, 2025
22.Cross River State Diaspora Commission Bill, 2025
13th May, 2025
23.Cross River State Drugs and Health Commodity Agency Bill
29th May, 2025
24.Cross River State Senior Citizens Centre Bill, 2025
17th April, 2025
25.Cross River State Lotteries and Gaming Agency Law 2025
14th April, 2025
26.Cross River State Local Government (Amendment) Law 2025
22nd Jan. 2025
27.Cross River State Scraps Regulatory Agency Amendment Law
11th March, 2025
28.Cross River State Road Maintenance Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2024
29.Cross River State Water Supply and Sanitation Bill, 2024
30.Cross River State Supplementary Appropriation Law, 2024
There are also Bills that are in various Legislative stages.
They are;
1.Cross River State Customary Court Bill, 2024
Committee Stage (Judiciary)
2.Cross River State Passenger Welfare Scheme Bill, 2024
Committee Stage (Transport)
4.Cross River State Equal Opportunity Bill, 2024
1st Reading
5.Cross River State Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Bill, 2024
1st Reading
6.Cross River State Audit Service Commission Bill, 2024
Committee Stage (Judiciary)
7.Cross River State Chain Saw Men (Registration and Control) Bill, 2024
Committee Stage (Agric and Natural resources)
8.Cross River State Electricity Bill, 2025
1st Reading
9.Local Government Pensions Bill, 2025
Committee Stage
(Join Committee on Finance & Appropriation/Local Govt., Political Affairs and Rural Development)
*Resolutions* – Arising from various Motions and Matters of Urgent Public Importance, including Requests for Approvals from the Executive, the House has passed Eighty-three (83) Resolutions. Most of the Resolutions have been fully complied with by the Executive Arm.
Confirmations
Within the period, the House made the following Confirmations;
Nominations for Appointment as Chairman and Members of the House of Assembly Service Commission.
Nominations for Appointment as Chairman and Members of the Civil Service Commission
Nominations for Appointment as Vice Chairman/CEO and Commissioners of the State Planning Commission
Nominations for Appointment as Chairman and Commissioners of Local Government Service Commission.
Chairman and Members of IRS
Chairman, Traditional Rulers’ Council
Chairman and Members of Privatization Council
Chairman and Commissioners, CROSIEC Chairman and members of CRS Diaspora Commission
Commissioners of CRS Judicial Service Commission
*Oversight* – As a constitutional duty, the House through its various Standing, and Special Committees, has carried out oversight on MDAs with a view to monitoring and controlling public funds meant for execution of projects by MDAs. This activity was done on a quarterly basis, as always, and has helped in checkmating public spending.
*Capital Projects-* The House undertook the execution of the following capital projects
i.Renovation of Administrative Block
Assembly Complex Completed
ii. Partial Renovation of Office Block (Temporary House of Assembly Service Commission)
Assembly Complex Completed
iii.Partial Renovation of Committee Block
Assembly Complex Completed
iv. Partial Renovation of Chamber Block and Main Chamber
Assembly Complex Completed
v. Reconstruction of Assembly Quarters Entrance Gate
Parliamentary Village
Completed
vi. Partial Renovation of Speaker and Deputy Speaker’s Lodge State Housing Completed
vii. Purchase of new Audio Control Equipment
Assembly Chamber
Completed
*“`Training*“`
During the Year under review, the House sponsored Honourable Members to attend workshop at Lagos and Abuja. Staff also received in-house training on capacity building including two staff that were recently trained at University of Calabar on E-Governance by the Korean Government, in Partnership with the Federal and State Ministries of Science, Innovation and Technology.
May I also inform us that some years ago, our branch was delisted from the membership of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) due to our indebtedness of dues to the Association. I am happy to announce to you that our membership has just been reinstated to enable us partake in all their conferences while we are still looking for a way to totally defray our debts. This will enable us deepen a Legislative Knowledge, as we share experience with other members of Commonwealth Countries.
Going forward, our concentration will be on more effective legislation, oversight and monitoring to ensure that all MDAs comply with our budgetary provisions, and in line with the People First mantra of our Governor, His Excellency, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu.
The welfare of Honourable Members and staff will continue to be of top priority and great attention.
Therefore, I solicit the continued co-operation of all the Honourable Members, and staff to sustain a viable House that is counted among the committee of state where order and peace is a binding factor.
Thank you.
Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem
Speaker
