By Anya C. Anya

The Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji has expressed appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for signing into law the autonomy granted to state Legislature.

President Muhammadu Buhari has during the week signed and approved full implementation of the Executive Order 10 of 2020 which grants full autonomy to State Legislature and Judiciary.

The Abia State House of Assembly presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji had resumed sitting on Wednesday, 27th May, 2020.after plenary was adjourned on Monday, 23rd March, 2020 as a result of the outbreak of Covid 19 and the need to curtail the spread of the virus.

While addressing The Abia State House of Assembly members ,The Speaker welcomed them back after being away from each other, He went on to expressed the gratitude of the house to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, on the implementation of Executive Order 10 of 2020 which grants full autonomy to State Legislature and Judiciary. According to the Speaker ,it was a welcome development which has positioned the other arm of government to a more efficient and effective representation and service delivery.

The Speaker thereafter read a Letter from the Auditor-General (AG) of the Local Government Areas of Abia State on the submission of the Audited Report of the 17 Local Government Areas of the State for the 2019 fiscal year and the audit of management of the Local Government Health Authorities.The Abia State Auditor General had in the letter sent to the house of Assembly appealed for the Speaker’s support to see the signing of the Report into Law.

But The Speaker, Rt.Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, while addressing the members of the house of Assembly committed the report to the House Committee on Public Petitions for necessary legislative works.

A petition was sent in through the Member representing Aba North State Constituency, Hon Aaron Uzodike and the Member Representing Umuahia South State Constituency, Hon Barr Jerry Uzosike who brought in a matter of Urgent Public Importance on the Devastation of some Sections of his Constituency by Erosion.

Both Petition and matter of public importance were received by the house and the petitions were committed to the  House Committee on Public Petitions.

The House of Assembly also received the news of the demise of the Commissioner of Environment Late Solomon Ogunji from the Deputy Majority Leader, Hon Chief Paul Tharibo.

While commenting, the Speaker described the death as an unfortunate incident and said the House will make out a day to visit the family.

In his words “For those who knew him very well, he was a man that was never afraid to air his opinion at all times. We have watched him and his undeniable efforts in the election that produced his brother and friend, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, as the Governor of Abia State. I will like us to do me that favor to join me on next time we sit to visit his home”, he concluded.

The House thereafter observed a minute silence for the Late Commissioner for Environment, Dr Solomon Ogunji.