REVALIDATION OF COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES WILL BOOSTS AKWA IBOM IGR - DR. USORO AKPANUSOH

... Says water and good roads should be provided to the rural communities

The member representing Esit Eket/Ibeno State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Asembly who doubles as Chairman, House Committee on Rural Development and Public Utilities, Dr. Usoro Akpanusoh, have said that proper revalidation and categorization of Cooperative Societies will boost up the State IGR.

Dr. Akpanusoh stated this on  tuesday 29th October, 2019 in his Uyo office during an interaction with the press shortly  after  his committee's Meeting, during which the committee scrutinized and perused the MDAs 2020 budget proposals in order to determine important areas while also ensuring that some grey areas of the proposals are well aligned  to ensure prompt approval and effective implementation when passed into law.

Dr. Akpanusoh, frowned at the unprofessional methods through which government  loans are given to Cooperatives without proper documentation, analysis and  verification of such Cooperative Societies. He urged the Special Adviser to Governor Udom Emmanuel on Bureau of Rural Development and  Cooperatives,  Mrs. Ekemini Umoh,  who appeared before the Committee to defend her 2020 budget proposal to see to the effective revalidation of all Cooperatives through partnership with the Commissioner for women Affairs, Dr. Glory Edet, whose office is said to be in charge of loans disbursement.

Conferring with pressmen, Hon. Usoro revealed  that the committee on Rural Development and Public Utilities during their committee meeting  discussed  on the need for the Bureau for Rural Development and Cooperatives to ensure that at least two rural roads are graded per federal Constituency, stating that when that is done it will engender Urban-Rural integration where the locals can easily move to the towns and most incredibly the state's capital city to sale their wares and goods.

Earlier, Mrs. Ekemini Umoh, Special Adviser to Governor Udom Emmanuel on Rural Development and Cooperatives, while applauding the Committee for considering scrutiny of the 2020 budget proposals pertinent for effective budgeting and implementation, appealed to the comittee for a provision in the proposed budget to  include three units of 3.5MVA generating set for use at the secretariat. She said electricity supply at the State Secreatariat is from the only malfunctioning generator in use at the secretariat.

Subsequently, during the Committee' deliberation on the budget Proposal by the Ministry of lands and Water Resources, Dr. Akpanusoh also harped on the need for the said Ministry which is headed by Arc. Ime Ekpo; to build a synergy with Epbraim Inyang's Ministry of Works, Special Adviser  on power, Engr. Mmeyene Etukudoh and Bureau of Rural Development and Cooperatives, so as to ensure that proper  compensation are paid to deserving rural settlers whose houses are demolished and affected  in the course of constructing new roads and other developmental activities in the hinterland.

The Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources, Arc. Ekpo, observed that most of the water board channel pipes are broken without proper replacement or re-chanelling of the pipes in order to avert future havoc, stressing that even those whose houses are affected have been calling on the government for aide. He however informed the committee that required standard in the construction of boreholes is 100 metres distance.

Other Committee members contributions  were was equally appreciated by the Committee Chairman.

In attendance were, Deputy Speaker of the 7th Assembly, Rt Hon (Princes) Felicia Bassey, Rt. Hon. Idongesit Ntekpre, Hon. Asuquo Nana Udo,  Hon. Godwin Ekpo, Hon. Otobong Bob .