The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly (AKHA), has queried the process that led to the selection of 1,072 nominees of Akwa Ibom origin for the federal government’s conditional grant for businesses.The House therefore, has summoned the Commissioner for Economic Development, Mr. Emem Bob and the Chairman of ALGON in the state, Engr. Iniobong Robson who is also the Transition Committee Chairman of Esit Eket Local Government Area, to appear before a special ad-hoc committee of the Assembly to offer clarification on the modalities used for the selection.This followed a Motion brought before the House by the member representing Eket State Constituency, Dr. Nsidibe Akata, during Thursday’s plenary. He told the House that the Motion was propelled due to a number of petitions he had received across the state, revealing that the federal government had earlier disbursed N50 billion to the 774 local government areas in the country, as part of its programme to cushion the effect of the removal of fuel subsidy. The Eket State Constituency representative further informed the House that under the scheme, beneficiaries would receive N50,000 grant, having been selected with the involvement of stakeholders in each constituency. He however expressed shock that the selection process was done and concluded without any input from stakeholders, a development he told the Assembly that the Ministry of Economic Development must be summoned to answer questions about the 1,072 nominee list. The Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Kufre Edidem, Hon. Eric Akpan representing Nsit Ibom State Constituency, Dr. (Mrs.) Itorobong Etim representing Uruan State Constituency, among others told the House that they were dissatisfied with the manner the federal government’s financial grant to Nano businesses in the state was being conducted by the ministry.The members therefore, asked the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Ukeme Otong, to immediately take actions to allow relevant stakeholders play some role in the selection process.Responding, the Speaker said it was sad to observe that over 90 percent of communities across the 31 local government areas had petitioned the selection process and the manner in which the Commissioner for Economic Development was handling the whole affairs. In view of this, the Speaker said there was an urgent need for the House to step into the matter and ensure that the whole process would be handled with all the transparency it deserves. The Speaker therefore, appointed the member representing Eket State Constituency, Dr. Nsidibe Akata who is the Chairman, House Committee on Economic Development and Planning to serve as secretary to the special ad-hoc committee. Others to serve as committee members include; Rt. Hon. Asuquo Nana; Hon. Jerry Otu; Prince Ukpong Akpabio; Hon. Uwem Imo-Ita and Hon. Eric Effiong Akpan.
