Akwa, Ibom State House of Assembly has cleared two nominees for the position of Commissioners in the state executive council and one other as Chairman, State Secondary Education Board, SSEB. Those cleared for the position of Commissioners include, Sir. Barr. Ibanga Akpabio from Essien Udim local government area and Prof. Barr. Victor Daniel Bassey Inoka an indigene if Oruk Anam local government area.
They were cleared on Friday by the lawmakers during plenary.
The House also ratified the appointment of Mr. Umana Sam Umana as Chairman, State Secondary Education Board, SSEB.
Their confirmation is sequel to the consideration and adoption of the report of House Committee on Judiciary, Justice, Human Rights and Public Petitions. Submitting his report, Chairman of the committee, Hon. Barr. Aniefiok Dennis disclosed the committee cleared the nominees having found that there was no petition or adverse report against the them. He said they have met the constitutional requirements for appointment as Commissioners as outlined in sections 106 and 107 of the 1999 constitution as amended.
He added that “the nominees are intelligent men of proven integrity and will add value to the administrative machinery of the State”. The committee Chairman urged the House to confirm their appointment as they (the nominees) have met the constitutional requirement for such offices.
The House was later dissolved into a committee of the whole, where the Commissionership nominees, Ibanga Akpabio and Prof Victor Inoka appeared before the lawmakers for screening.
In their reaction, the member representing Essien Udim State Constituency, Hon Nse Ntuen, who described Sir Akpabio as a PDP stalwart who has served the party diligently, thanked Governor Udom Emmanuel for finding him worthy to serve in his cabinet.
He pleaded that the nominee, a two Secretary of the party, who until his nomination was State Deputy Chairman of the PDP be asked to take a bow and go.
“He is a party stalwart in the state. Let me thank His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel for nominating Sir Ibanga Akpabio to serve as Commissioner in the state. His excellence performance as State Secretary of the party earned him the elevation as Deputy Chairman of the PDP. He is a consummate administrator and some one who is down to earth.”
Congratulating the nominees, Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Barr Onofiok Luke who observed that they possess the needed credentials to occupy the office, advised them to serve Akwa Ibom people diligently, as they would be discharging the responsibilities that will be assigned to them.
House Leader, Rt. Hon Udo Kierian Akpan said since members of the House were beneficiaries of the PDP’s ticket, it was only proper that the nominee be asked to take a bow.
Deputy Speaker, Princess Felicia Bassey on her part said she was excited at the nomination of Sir Ibanga Akpabio for the state exco job.
Appearing before the lawmakers, Sir Akpabio said he attended secondary education in Warri, Delta State and completed in Ikot Ekpene, where he proceeded to the University of Nigeria, UNN, Enugu campus where he studied law, and later moved to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos.
The nominee did his NYSC at Aba, Abia State. He started his law practice with Samuel Usoro & Co.
Prof Inoka was until his nomination, a senior lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He had served as Transition Chairman of Oruk-Anam local government council before returning to the academic world.
