Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly is set to celebrate its silver jubilee.
The state was created from the then Cross River state on September 23, 1987, by the military administration of Ibrahim Babangida and was governed for four years by different military administrators.
The first Assembly was inaugurated on January 20, 1992, by the first elected governor of the state, Akpan Isemin.
The present Assembly, headed by Onofiok Luke, is the 6th so far.
To mark the celebration, the Assembly plans to hold a joint-sitting on Thursday with the Cross River state House of Assembly.
The Speaker of the Akwa Ibom Assembly, Luke, and his Cross River counterpart, John Lebo, are expected to co-chair the proceedings.
“The joint-sitting of the House will be a significant reminder of the historical ties which the two states are proud to share,” the Deputy Leader of the House, Ime Okon, said on Monday while briefing the press on the activities for the week-long celebration.
He said the House would use the opportunity to present its mid-term report to the public and also launch the Akwa Ibom Legislative Internship Programme.
The lawmakers will, still on Thursday, participate in a public lecture on the role of the legislature in development of the state in the past 25 years.
Governor Udom Emmanuel and his predecessor, Godswill Akpabio, who is the Senate Minority Leader, are expected to participate in the celebration.
“One interesting feature worthy of note is that each successive assembly has always appreciated the need to collaborate and synergise with the executive in the interest of the people and for the accelerated development of the state, while jealously guarding the independence and the constitutional oversight role of the legislature. (Premium Times)
