The Assembly in session with the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem presiding.
By Anietie Akpan
The Cross River State House of Assembly (CRHA) has passed 30 bills into law with eight pending as it marks the end of the second legislative year.
Within the period under review, the 10th Assembly also passed 83 Resolutions.
Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem who said this on Friday, June 13 while giving Assembly’s scorecard for the second legislative year stated that some of the bills have been assented to by the Governor.
Some of the bills passed into law include, the Cross River State Security Trust Fund Bill, 2024; Supplementary Appropriation Bill, 2024; Forestry Research Institute (Establishment) Bill, 2024; Independent Electoral Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2024; Records and Archives Bill, 2024; Green Economy Commission Bill, 2024; Climate Change Bill, 2024 and Cross River State University of Education and Entrepreneurship Bill, 2024.
Others are Cross River State College of Agriculture Bill, 2024; Cross River State Appropriation Bill, 2025; Cross River State University of Education and Entrepreneurship Law 14th Nov. 2024; Cross River State Customary Court of Appeal (amendment) Law 2024 28th Sept. 2024; Cross River State Security Trust Funds Amendment Law 15th June, 2024; Cross River State Records and Archives Bureau Law 10th Sept. 2024; Cross River State Waters Supply and Sanitation Law 14th Aug. 2024; Cross River State Forest Research Institute 29th Aug. 2024 and Cross River State Traffic Management and Regulatory Agency (Amendment) Law 2024.
The Presumptive Tax Law in Cross River State December, 2024; Cross River State Fire Fighting and Rescue Service Law 2024; Appropriation Amendment Law 2024; Rural Access Road Authority Bill, 2025; Cross River State Diaspora Commission Bill, 2025; Cross River State Drugs and Health Commodity Agency Bill 2025; Cross River State Senior Citizens Centre Bill, 2025; and Cross River State Lotteries and Gaming Agency Law 2025; Cross River State Local Government (Amendment) Law 2025; Cross River State Scraps Regulatory Agency Amendment Law 2025; Cross River State Road Maintenance Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2024; Cross River State Water Supply and Sanitation Bill, 2024 and Cross River State Supplementary Appropriation Law, 2024.
He stated that eight Bills are in various Legislative stages while “resolutions arising from various Motions and Matters of Urgent Public Importance, including Requests for Approvals from the Executive, the House has passed 83 Resolutions. Most of the Resolutions have been fully complied with by the Executive Arm”.
Within the year under review, Ayambem informed the Assembly that, “some years ago, our branch was delisted from the membership of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) due to our indebtedness of dues to the Association. I am happy to announce to you that our membership has just been reinstated to enable us partake in all their conferences while we are still looking for a way to totally defray our debts. This will enable us deepen a Legislative Knowledge, as we share experience with other members of Commonwealth Countries”.
Going forward, he said “our concentration will be on more effective legislation, oversight and monitoring to ensure that all Ministries, Departments Agencies (MDAs) comply with our budgetary provisions, and in line with the People First mantra of our Governor”.
He commended Governor Otu, for “the synergy with this House, in terms of Legislature/Executive relationship and for his timely and prompt assent to Bills passed by this Honourable House. It is also a commendable fact that His Excellency, the Governor, places premium on most of our Resolutions, which are always implemented”.
While also commending his colleagues for the co-operation, love and unity that has existed in the Assembly despite some misunderstandings, the Speaker also acknowledged thee Clerk and staff of the Assembly saying, “their efforts have yielded more results in the achievements of this 10th Assembly. On this note, I would take up your agitation for the Implementation of the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS) with His Excellency, the Governor, to give approval as provided in the Cross River State House of Assembly Service Commission Law of 2020.
“This is in recognition of the enormous and tedious work performed by you beyond the usual daily eight hours of work applicable to other civil servants in the State, and the fact that almost all States in the South-South have implemented the Salary Structure for their Legislative workers”.
