By Mary Bassey, House of Assembly Correspondent
The Cross River State House of Assembly has called on the Cross River State Government to revoke the sale of the State Abuja Liaison Office, which was purportedly concessioned to a private individual.
In a motion of urgent public interest raised by Honorable Kingsley Ntui, the member representing Etung State Constituency on Tuesday 19 March 2024, in a plenary held at the Assembly Complex, the Lawmaker resolved that the State property has to be recovered.
The Assembly’s Minority Whip, Hon. Omang Omang, representing Bekwarra State Constituency, expressed dismay at the extensive renovations without the State Government’s knowledge. He noted that the Assembly has not yet received any documentation approving the Abuja Liaison Office concession through due process to a private person or group of people.
Speaking further on the matter Hon. Omang cited section 128 of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution (as amended) which empowers the House of Assembly to carry out an investigation; demanding an inquiry into the purported sale of the state-owned property and the subsequent prosecution of those involved to dissuade future attempts by others to privatize government assets unlawfully.
In reaction to the situation, the House called for the immediate suspension of the ongoing renovations on the building and its recovery back to the Cross River State Government.
The lawmakers agreed to summon all parties engaged in the concession to thoroughly explain the procedures followed before the property was handed to private individuals.
The Speaker, Hon. Elvert Ayambem, reaffirmed that the Assembly members’ call for the property’s return was a priority for the people of Cross River State and was not motivated by vendetta or witch-hunting.
He maintained that the Cross River State Governor-led administration is the people’s first administration and the House will do its best to support the actualization of the people’s first mantra.