IBOM WATCH Newspaper

RETIREES PLIGHT: REP. JIMBO CALLS FOR AMENDMENT OF PENSION ACT

Worried by the level of injustice meted on public and private retirees by their former employers, the Honourable Member Representing Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency in Nigerian House of Representatives, Rep. Clement Jimbo has called for the amendment of the 2004 Pension Act to address inhuman treatment of senior citizens of Nigeria who have paid their dues through diligent services to the government and private sectors of the Nation.

Presenting the motion on Tuesday, at the Green Chamber of the National Assembly, the Deputy Chairman of House of Representatives Committee on National Planning and Economic Development, frowned at the agony bedevilling our elderly citizens in the course of collecting what they saved for their olden days while in active service.

Rep. Jimbo, further expressed displeasure on how Managers of their Contributory Pension Scheme denied them of having greater share of their lump sum after retirement as a paltry sum (25% of the total amount credited to their Retirement Saving Accounts) is usually dispensed to them across board under the scheme; whereas the balance of 75% is usually retained by the Pensions Fund Administrators for investment in capital market with high returns, which is never added to the retirees’ monthly payments.

He further reiterated that the rising value of dollar against the naira, the recent removal of fuel subsidy and increase in price of goods and services has made such paltry monthly payments, which remain the same for several years grossly insufficient to sustain the retirees who had served the country honourably for 35 years and called on the National Assembly to amend the 2004 Pension Act which deals with retirement benefits, to make it optional and to bring it in conformity with the current economic realities.

The motion which was widely supported by the Parliamentarians, was referred to the House Committee on Pension to interface with relevant stakeholders to address the yearnings of the retirees.

Media Unit,
Office of the Honourable Member Representing Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal Constituency,
Deputy Chairman, House Committee on National Planning and Economic Development.

AKHA SPEAKER HONOURS RT. REV. ANTAI & WIFE ON RETIREMENT

The Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Elder) Udeme J. Otong, today, June 25, 2023 attended the Episcopal Thanksgiving Service in honour of His Lordship, Rt. Rev. Prince Asukwo Edet Antai and wife, Dame Victoria Antai.

The Rt. Rev. Antai until his retirement was the Bishop of Uyo Diocese of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) while his wife, Dame Victoria Antai was the President of Women Ministries of the Church.

The retirement thanksgiving service which held at the Cathedral Church of All Saints, Dominic Utuk Avenue, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, had in attendance the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno, his Deputy, Her Excellency, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah, Members of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Chairmen of Local Government Councils and other top government functionaries.

Press Unit
Office of the Speaker,
Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.

UDEME OTONG: A PERFECT NEXUS BETWEEN THE 8TH ASSEMBLY WITH GOV. UMO ENO'S ARISE AGENDA

By: Ubong Akpan

Rt. Hon. (Elder) Udeme Otong, the five-star lawmaker who speaks for the people of Abak State Constituency in Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and Chairman, House Committee on Health is a brand that the Eighth Assembly must not miss at the helm of affairs following his track records over the years as an astute administrator of no mean repute whose experience traverses from Health, Public, Private and Business World. He is a successful and down-to-earth leader with a heart of gold who has never been found wanting in any responsibility and task assigned to him.


Born into the great family of Otong at Abak Itenge Village, Abak Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Elder Udeme Otong after foreseeing what the future holds for him, began his academic pursuit at Qua Iboe Church Primary School, Abak Itenge, Abak Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State where he studied and obtained his First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) and thereafter proceeded to the prestigious Holy Family College, Oku Abak, where bagged his West African Examination Certificate (WAEC).

In order to fulfill his dream as a career Nurse, he advanced to study at the School of Nursing, Eket for a National Diploma in General Nursing. Thereafter, he proceeded to the School of Psychiatric Nursing, Calabar, Cross River State, for National Diploma in Psychiatric Nursing and later enrolled at the University of Uyo, for his Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology and Anthropology and is currently studying for a higher degree.

As a veteran labour leader/professional nurse who has held the following positions: National President, Initiatives of Health Workers in Community Medicine, President and Trustee of Health Workers Multipurpose Cooperative Society, Akwa Ibom State Chapter, Two Term State Chairman, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives(NANNM), Immediate Past State Chairman, Joint Public Sector Negotiating Council, Immediate Past State Chairman, Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), Chairman, EDIMED Global Health Care Foundation and Director, EDIMED Hospitals/Pharmacy, he was able to use his positions to transform the health sector in Akwa Ibom State and also established an excellent working relationship between Nurses and the Government of Akwa Ibom State.


His indelible legacies have continue to speak volume and cannot be sacrificed on peoples' sentiment who sees no good in what others do.

As the mouthpiece of Abak in Akwa Ibom State House Of Assembly from 2019 to date, he was appointed the Chairman of Akwa Ibom State House Of Assembly Committee on Health by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey, following his indelible footprints in the health sector, he is also the Deputy Chairman, AKHA Committee on Rural Development and Public Utilities and is also a member of the following House Standing Committees: Committee on Appropriation and Finance, Committee on Education, Committee on Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Committee on Women Affairs and Social Welfare/Cooperative, Committee on Environment and Committee onInter-Governmentall, Political and Social Matters.

Hon. Udeme Otong as a trailblazer has contributed immensely on the floor of the House on matters that have positively transformed the lives of the citizens and has achieved so much within his first term in office in the areas of lawmaking, oversight and representation as Member of Parliament in the Seventh Assembly.

His achievements in the past four years in office in terms of private member bills and motion on matters of urgent public importance is topnotch and unprecedented. His private member bills include;

1. A Bill for A Law To Establish Akwa Ibom State College Of Nursing Sciences & Midwifery to enable the institution award ND/HND certificates to graduates at completion of their studies in place of the regular RN certificate that School of Nursing used to award to their graduates. This important bill was assented by the Immediate Past Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel after considering its prominence.

2. A Bill for A Law To Establish Akwa Ibom State Health Insurance Scheme. This is another great feat of the Abak lawmaker. The bill provides for free treatment of Akwa Ibom State citizens in public and private hospitals. It was also assented by the Immediate Past Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel.

Other bills sponsored by the noble legislator which are not yet assented by the Governor of Akwa Ibom State are:

3. A bill for a Law to prohibit stigmatization of people living with Hiv and Aids in Akwa Ibom State.

4. A bill for a law to establish the Akwa Ibom State Private Healthcare Management Agency.

5. A Bill for a Law to establish Akwa Ibom State Maternal And Perinatal Death Surveillance And Response Agency.

In the area of Motions on matters of Urgent Public Importance, his imprints include:

1. Motion calling on relevant Government Agencies as a Matter of Urgent Public Importance to intervene in the gully erosion encroachment imposing a serious threat to Abak Independent Hall Building, Abak Local Government Council Secretariat and its environs.

2. Motion calling on the State Government to upgrade Model Girls Junior Secondary School to a senior level and also erect new infrastructures for the students'as well as employ new teaching and non-teaching staff to boost manpower for effective service delivery.

3. Motion calling on Government relevant Agencies to undertake remedial work on the failed portion of ABAK - UKPOM - IKONO - IDORO ROADS by PEPSI JUNCTION to save the souls of Abak and Akwa Ibom State citizens from accident that claimed many lives and also mandated them to provide alternative routes to curb more lost of lives.

4. Motion calling on the State government and relevant authorities to intervene in the collapsed Obiobom bridge in Abak Local Government Area.

5. Motion calling on the Government of Akwa Ibom State to eradicate unprofessionalism in the health sector.

6. Motion calling on the State Government to rekindle Covid-19 safety protocols to prevent the deadly Covid-19 Delta variant and also sensitize the people about the disease.

On representation, Elder Udeme Otong was the first Seventh Assembly Member to held a Constituency Briefing and Empowerment in which afforded him the opportunity to present cars, mini-buses, tricycles, motor bikes, gas cookers, Washing machines, wrappers, food items, and lots more to his Constituents.

The five star lawmaker aside from sponsorship of bills, motions and empowerment of his people has transformed some dilapidated schools in his Constituency through his Constituency projects which are construction of nine classroom blocks at CJC Comprehensive Secondary School, Atai Otoro, renovation of 5 classroom blocks at QIC Primary School, Abak Itenge and building of a bungalow to a homeless citizen of Abak State Constituency at Abak Itenge.

As Chairman of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee Health, he has led members of the House Committee on several occasions to oversight functions at Government hospitals and also interfaced with relevant stakeholders both in health and other sectors to support the executive arm of government's effort to transform the health sector for the betterment of Akwa Ibomites.

Elder Otong as a people centric Leader has launched several live enlivening programmes like grant disbursement and starter packs, free medical services, donation of food items during COVID-19 pandemic and lots more to ameliorate hardship among his people and those outside his constituency.

There is a proverb that says "Ayop afon efang ase atungo ke uten" which means, a palm tree that would be productive is known in it early stage". Suffice it to say that the representation of Rt. Hon. (Elder) Udeme Otong within his first four years is productive in all ramifications as no stone is left unturned in his Constituency. As the inauguration of the Eighth Assembly approaches, the lawmakers should consider someone with legislative and administrative experience, good character, ranking and maturity to pilot their affairs for the next four years to enable the State Legislature connect with the Arise Agenda of Governor Umo Eno.

Breaking:

Atiku announces Ifeanyi Okowa as Vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party.

He announced this via his official Facebook timeline some minutes ago and it read thus:
"I am delighted to announce Governor Ifeanyi A. Okowa as my Vice Presidential candidate. I look forward to travelling our great country together, engaging with all Nigerians and building a shared future of peace, unity, and prosperity for all. As One We Can Get It Done. . -AA"