Abia Assembly not controlled by executive, says Speaker

The Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Emmanuel Emeruwa, has dismissed claims that the legislature is under the control of the executive arm of government, insisting that both arms maintain a cordial working relationship for the benefit of the state.

Emeruwa stated this on Tuesday in Umuahia during activities marking the third anniversary of the 8th Abia State House of Assembly.

According to him, the Assembly has deliberately sustained a harmonious relationship with the executive to ensure effective governance and development.

“We maintained a cordial relationship with the government because, if there is any rift, the state will suffer.

“The relationship between the House and the Executive has been very cordial and harmonious, and we intend to keep it that way. We try to maintain that and resolve issues amicably.

“I disagree with the idea that the Executive has pocketed the State Assembly. We can disagree, and at the end, the matter is settled in a peaceful manner,” the Speaker said.

Highlighting the achievements of the 8th Assembly, Emeruwa said lawmakers had passed numerous bills covering welfare, criminal justice, politics and appropriation.

“We have done so many laws, from welfare laws, criminal laws, and political appropriation laws. We have covered all grounds.

“There are too many laws that you may even say we should stop making laws for now, to implement the ones we have already done. If we keep implementing, every field, every aspect of human life has been touched.

“We have covered almost everywhere in lawmaking, within this eighth assembly,” he stated.

The Speaker also disclosed plans to digitise the operations of the Assembly, noting that funding remained a major challenge.

On constituency projects, Emeruwa said lawmakers had executed projects across the state but stressed that legislation remained the primary responsibility of the Assembly.

He also expressed satisfaction that the number of Labour Party lawmakers in the House had increased from nine to 11 members.

Commenting on the killing of nursing student Wendy Achumba in Imo State, the Speaker said members of the Assembly had visited the victim’s family and expressed confidence that justice would be served.

“Since those suspects have been caught, it is the duty of the law to investigate them and probably those who are arrested, will face justice,” he said.

Despite the Assembly’s accomplishments, Emeruwa acknowledged that some goals were yet to be achieved.

“We haven’t gotten everything we wanted,” he said.