By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo
There are strong indications that a crisis may erupt between the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and members of the State Executive Council over alleged boycott of committee invitations by some commissioners.
This issue came to light after the Deputy Speaker of the House, Mr. Kufre Abasi Edidem, who represents Itu State constituency, raised concerns during last Thursday’s plenary session.
Edidem expressed his frustration over how some commissioners have been ignoring invitations sent to them by the House through its committees, labeling this attitude as disrespectful and unacceptable.
He cited instances where the House received matters of public importance and passed resolutions to its committees, instructing them to engage with the relevant commissioners and special advisers. However, these officials consistently declined the invitations.
Edidem said, “It’s rather sad to observe that a motion would be here, a resolution would be sent to a House Committee, and the Committee Chairman would send an invitation to the Commissioner in charge of the relevant Ministry, but the Commissioner refuses to honor the invitation. This attitude is a total deviation from the oath they took to serve Akwa Ibom people. These are the same people we screened and cleared here, in this hallowed chamber. We were elected by our people to make laws that would protect them.”
In response, the Speaker of the House, Mr. Udeme Otong, expressed his disapproval of the situation and warned that, going forward, the House, under his leadership, would not hesitate to exercise its powers against any government official who undermines the legislature.
He directed the chairpersons of the various committees to report any commissioner or special adviser who ignores their invitations for further action, stating, “In our standing order, if you invite a Commissioner or anybody to discuss the development and way forward, especially for the peace of Akwa Ibom State, and he or she refuses to appear, please bring it to my notice. This House will invite such a person to come and explain the reason for not responding to the invitation of the Committee Chairman.”
