EBONYI STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PRESS RELEASE

The state House of Assembly has formally mourned the demise of the former Clerk of the House, Mrs Patricia Anasi, whose death was announced on Monday, February 5, 2024. Observing a minute silence at the Legislative Complex, Nkaliki Road Abakaliki, the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Chinedu Onah, described the deceased Clerk as a virtues woman, and prayed for her soul to rest in bosom of the Lord.

Meanwhile, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Moses Ije Odunwa, announced the appointment of Mrs Edene Uche Blessing as the Acting Clerk of the House. Mrs Edene until her appointment, she was the Deputy Clerk of Ebonyi State House of Assembly.

However, the House also considered three executive bills forwarded to the House by the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chief Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru for legislative actions.

First, was A Bill to Establish Ebonyi State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law and Ebonyi State Building Control Agency Regulations, 2024.

Speaking in support of the bill, the Leader of the House, Rt. Hon. Kingsley Ikoro, said that the bill was apt, as no city grows better without proper planning. Rt. Hon. Ikoro maintained that the bill will tackle environmental problems, as they will be saddled with regulating and monitoring buildings, and also ensure that people follow proper guidelines in executing their building projects.

"This bill is apt. You can see as the caption of the bill reads; establish Ebonyi State urban and regional planning and development law. Mr Speaker, failing to plan is planning to fail. There is no city that grows to be a better city without proper planning. We all know this era, people build all manner of things in every site. Nobody even obeys law which says that this place is commercial or this place is residential area. Most people now build commercial projects in a residential area. Most people don't even obey regulations given the normal distance from road to their premises. Mr Speaker and my colleagues, I think this bill tackles all these environmental problems. Some people even go to convert green areas to residential homes. My colleagues, I think this building control agency on the other hand will tend to regulate the types of buildings we build in a specific area. For instance, you can not go and build a fuel/gas station in the market place, given the environmental hazards and what will happen if accident occurs. So, this agency is going to be saddled with regulating and monitoring buildings and making sure that people follow proper guideline in executing their project."

Contributing, the Member representing Ebonyi North West State Constituency, Hon. Barr. Aloysius Nwodo, enumerated the imperatives of the bill, adding that when the bill is passed, it will help the state to have planned buildings, noting that planned buildings enhance safe living, and also, enhance aesthetics of the State.

The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Moses Ije Odunwa, committed the bill to the House Committee on Lands and Survey, House Committee on Environment, and House Committee on Justice and Judiciary for further legislative actions.

Meanwhile, A Bill for a Law to Provide for the Administration of Physical Planning, Urban Development, Urban Regeneration, and Building Control in Ebonyi State and for Connected Purposes, and also, A Bill for a Law to Provide for the Ebonyi State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law and Ebonyi State Physical Planning Permit Regulations 2024, were also considered by the house.

On their contributions in favour of the bill, the Leader of the House, Rt. Hon. Kingsley Ikoro, The Member representing Ezza North West State Constituency, Hon. Chikaodiri Nomeh, the member representing Ohaozara East State Constituency, Hon. Chikezie Igu, and Hon. Godwin Abiri of Izzi West State Constituency, highlighted the importance of the bills, and implored their colleagues to support the passage.

The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Moses Ije Odunwa, also committed the bills to the House committees on Justice and Judiciary, Environment, and Land and Survey for further legislative action.

The plenary was therefore, adjourned to another legislative day through a motion that was moved by the Leader of the House, Rt. Hon. Kingsley Ikoro, and Seconded by the Member representing Izzi East State Constituency, Hon. Goodluck Obinna Mbam.

Theophilus Ifeanyi Igwe,
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker,
Ebonyi State House of Assembly.
February 15, 2024.