Published
2 weeks agoon
By
AdminBy Praise Chinecherem
Lawmaker representing Awka North and South in the House of Representatives, Prof Lilian Orogbu has commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo on his efforts in road constructions in the state.
She however said residents and visitors alive would only be alive to ply the roads in view of the growing insecurity in the state.
Orogbu spoke to reporters in Awka shortly after reeling out her account of one year stewardship in the National Assembly on the ocassion of UNW/NILDS step down in Anambra State.
She said she was not impressed with the level of development of the State under the current administration, aside road infrastructure.
She said, “I’m not impressed. To be fair, I have seen some roads here and there. That is what the government has achieved so far but we need to be alive to play the roads.
“The first responsibility of any responsive government is to protect the lives and properties of the people. The first priority of government should be to invest in security basically.
“It is quite disappointing what is happening in Anambra state. And I wish governor will focus more on security. Look at the killings in Nibo, Ifite, Nawfia and Enugwukwu communities. It is very much disturbing.
“We need government to invest money in security. It is very important because you cannot build Dubai Taiwan in Anambra state if there is not security. Who is going to invest in a place that is not secured?”
Asked whether she had suffered oppression of any kind at the legislative chambers as result of her gender, Orogbu said she had not faced such challenge, but rather noted that she had enjoyed good relationship with the Speaker, leadership of the house and other colleagues.
“I’m not facing challenges because it is a gender friendly house. I can tell you that I have good relationship with speaker, leadership of the house and they even pamper us,” she noted.
Earlier in her address to dignitaries that graced the ocassion, the lawmaker described her one year in office as busy and challenging, but assured she is on top of thd game.
She said, “I feel honoured to address you again in this gathering. I had told you during my opening remarks in the morning that l was not going to take your time making references to my sojourn to the National Assembly since the programme had indicated that l would address you on my stewardship in the House of Representatives.
“To start with l want to thank you immensely for considering worthy of representing you in the parliament. I also will like to inform you that the primary function of the legislature is law making for good governance and orderliness of the society. However, when this current democratic dispensation was midwifed our pioneers thought it wise to insert what they coined “Constituency and Zonal intervention projects “for members of the National Assembly.
“Under the constituency projects, a Rep is allocated N150 million in the statutory budget and N100 million as zonal intervention project bringing the sum total to N250 million every year. You can agree with me that this has become very insignificant in today’s monetary value.
“There is really not much a legislator can do in terms of inserting projects for his or constituency in each budget circle. Mind you this amount is not released directly to the legislator rather you are allowed to insert projects of your choice in designated federal agencies to execute on your behalf. Any other thing you are able to attract outside what this merge among can provide has to be through intense lobby and contacts.
“Without sounding immodest, my first one year and under one budget circle l have been able to attract a number of impactful projects as itemized below;
•NAME: OBI TOBENNA PRINCE.
*LGA: AWKA SOUTH.
*TOWN. OKPUNO.
*INSTITUTION: FED POLY OKO. 07037191843.
*NAME: ONUZULIGBO BLESSING NGOZI.
*LGA: AWKA SOUTH.
*TOWN: AMAWBIA.
*INSTITUTION: FED POLY OKO. 08061132818 NAME: OBUMNEME LEONARD NWEKE.
*LGA: AWKA NORTH.
*TOWN: AWBA OFEMILI.
*INSTITUTION: FED POLY OKO.
*NAME:ONWUZULIGBO CHIJIOKE EMMANUEL
*LGA: AWKA SOUTH.
*TOWN: AMAWBIA
*INSTITUTION: NIGERIAN SECURITY AND CIVIL DEFENSE CORPS. 08104608756
•OBI CHARLE UCHENNA.
*LGA: AWKA SOUTH.
*TOWN: MBAUKWU.
*INSTITUTION: NATIONAL BUREAU OF STATISTICS. 0806577785
On the core legislative activities, l sought and resurrected the Bill for the establishment of Federal College of Agriculture Awba Ofemili which was started by my predecessor but died with previous Assembly because it didn’t complete it legislative processes and it has now gone through second reading and passed to the relevant committee for public hearing.
17.. I also sponsored another Bill for the establishment of a college of Entrepreneurship studies in Awka
18.A. I have equally moved the following motions and petitions;
Petition against Nigeria Army in respect of a young constituent who was a serving soldier in Mumbai, Adamawa State but got missing since 2924 and another Class petition against cashcraft, a stock brokerage firm which defrauded over 90 Nigerians a total sum of N 8 billion
Mind you the first budget (2024) under this tenure came at the time l was still learning the ropes so you should expect much more goodies in the subsequent budgets. I will not end this presentation without bringing to your notice the disadvantages inherent in the inability of our constituency to produce a ranking legislator in the House of Representatives since the inception of this democratic dispensation.
Without being a ranking member of the House, by ranking member l mean you must have been around for at least two tenures or more, you won’t be able to get the chairmanship of a grade ‘A’ Committee or principal office. These are positions that can assist you attract more projects and other incentives for the constituency. I am not just saying this because l want to be re-elected but it the reality. The idea of stopping at single tenure is a big loss to all of us as members of Awka North/South
“Once again l thank you for your continued supports and like l promised you during my campaign l will remain a committed representative and most importantly l would as l promised pay more attention to the less served of our communities and that l will not fail to do.”