By Musa Yaro, Calabar
Cross River governor, Prince Bassey Otu, has sworn in Mr. Dominic Akiba as the new Clerk of the 10th State Assembly.
In a brief ceremony held in Governor’s Office, Calabar, Otu who described the event as significant in legislative affairs, charged the new clerk to brace up to his new responsibility of ensuring adequate management of the legislative arm of government.
While commending the immediate past Clerk on his meritorious service for 35 years and subsequent extension due to his dexterity in office, the Governor admonished his successor, Mr. Dominic Akiba, to brace up for the service ahead.
“Today you are the Clerk of the House, be informed that your responsibility is enormous.
“The big cap comes with a responsibility. You must be ready to discharge your constitutional duties efficiently and effectively to ensure the smooth running of the House of Assembly.
“The legislature is not an institution to joke with. Each time democracy is mentioned, the legislature is the main focus because it is the closest to the people and represents the voice of the people, so, be ready to bring your wealth of experience to bear as you assume the office of a clerk from today,” the governor charged.
On his expectation from the house in terms of legislation to support economic development in the state, Otu disclosed, “We are taking Cross River to the next level. Our approach to economic development is multi-sectoral and we have emergency in all areas and we must tackle all for the overall development of our dear state.
“Let me thank Mr. Speaker and his team for the cooperation they have shown so far since we took over the mantle of leadership.
“The collaboration has been fantastic and I am very happy at the spate of legislative businesses already exhibited by the parliament within this short time.
“I am very optimistic that, with the crop of lawmakers we have in the house today, the state will move at the speed of light in developing a robust economic road map with corresponding legislations to create an acceptable framework for businesses to thrive.
“We are repositioning the state to host unlimited investment portfolios in our desire to build a sub-national economy that is second to none in Nigeria. As a result, the House will be inundated with several legislations.
On the welfare of the lawmakers, the Governor informed, “We are working out a reasonable modality to improve on the welfare of our lawmakers as what we met on the ground does not depict a welfare package for legislators. We will augment it for a better and more encouraging package to boost the morale of these vibrant lawmakers.
“Let me appeal to the legislators to give the new clerk the same support they accorded the immediate past clerk. What I have come to realize is that over time, the clerk of the house becomes one of the parliamentarians because of the privilege to serve at that level.
“Sincerely, working together will be most productive as it will allow the parliament to move at its desired speed.
“We will continue to work together as a team in our quest to transform the socio-economic landscape of our state. The responsibility is not only on the executive but all leaders in all arms of government so, we must take up the challenge to better the lots of our people with an indelible footprint on the sands of time when we exit,” the governor remarked.
Speaking in an interview shortly after the swearing-in Ceremony, the new Clerk of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Mr. Dominic Akiba, promised to bring his wealth of experience to bear in the day-to-day discharge of his duties.
“I am aware that the task of parliament is enormous but over the years we have been trained to meet up the task of this office and I will not disappoint the people of Cross River State.
“With God on our side, the 10th legislature will surpass the 9th in terms of law-making, oversight functions, and other critical duties of the parliament,” the Clerk added.
