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A Member of Kogi State House of Assembly representing Ankpa II Constituency and the deputy minority leader of the State Assembly, Hon Rabiu Momoh Alfa has presented his constituency allowance cheque to the electorate in his constituency during a town hall meeting where he gave account of his stewardship in the past one year.
While expressing gratitude to Almighty God and appreciation to the people of Ankpa ii, Hon Rabiu who said his major role as a member of the state legislature was to make, change and repeal laws which are of public importance noted that he equally stand a chance to contribute to the development of the constituency which he represent. The member said the deplorable Ankpa township road and gully erosion at Enjema, Olufofo, Ojokwu, Afo Ogam-gam, Ofugo and other parts of Ankpa Local Government Area and absence of basic infrastructure in his area were his major worries before he was elected by the people of Ankpa ii into the State legislative house. According to him ‘to address ecological challenges faced by many communities in Ankpa and the deplorable state of Ankpa township, Ankpa-Emere-Enabo-Ofugo roads and other decayed public infrastructure in Ankpa Local Government Area, i met with the Administrator 1 of Ankpa, my colleague in Ankpa 1 and the commissioner for Commerce and Industry and we discussed how we can bring government attention to the pressing challenges of our people. Irrespective of our political stand, we wrote a letter to the governor of Kogi State and within the shortest period of time, the governor directed the TEC Engineering Company to return to site and commence the rehabilitation of abandoned Ankpa township roads while team of engineers have also be deployed to various erosion sites across Ankpa local government area on the governor’s directive’.
Speaking on the ongoing civil service screening in the state, Hon Rabiu said he was bordered by the condition of the civil servants most importantly the teachers in Ankpa local government area who are being owed salary for about 8 months. According to him, ‘the screening exercise was a novel idea by the state government but the situation where genuine workers could not get their salary while the screening was going on was worrisome. The principal of a secondary school in my own community including many whom we grew up to know as teachers were declared ghost workers. After several calls and complains from the people of my constituency, i joined my colleagues on the floor of the state Assembly and summoned the chairman of the Screening Complaint Committee to appear before the House to give us the details and the reason while the screening has refused to end and genuine workers not paid. The chairman appeared before the House on Thursday, 1st of September and gave his explanation and at the end, the Kogi State House of Assembly unanimously directed the screening committee to pay workers salary while screening was going on and to also ensure no genuine worker of both state and local government is victimised during the screening. I reported back to the effected persons in my constituency accordingly’.
On the issue of constituency allowance, Hon Rabiu said it was an old democratic practice that a lawmaker is entitled to allowance which can be used to complement government effort in the provision of basic amenities within constituency depending on the amount of fund available. While presenting the cheque to the Ward leaders and Ward Chairmen of the 8 Wards in Ankpa ii State Constituency, Hon Rabiu said, ‘the constituency allowances were disbursed in batches. I was among the lawmakers that were presented with the cheque last week and as an elected officer on the mandate of the people, i have decided to bring the cheque to you the electorate for us to discuss what, where and how this fund should be used for the betterment of our people. I am entitled to my salary as House member; this fund is not for my personal use but the reward of your support for me and our party’. Receiving the cheque were Enjema Ward1 Chairman, Achimi Ademu, Enjema Ward2,Sheidu Ademu,Enjema ward3 Musa Amidu, Enjema Ward4 Balarabe Usman, Ojoku Ward 1 Abdullahi Shaibu, Ojoku Ward2 Awal Muhammed, Ojoku Ward3 Abel John, and Ojoku Ward4 Johnson Audu.
Hon Rabiu used the occasion and appealed to the state government through the commissioner for Rural Development to as a matter of urgency, rehabilitate Ankpa-Emere-Enabo-Ofuga road which has become almost impassable. While speaking on the current exploration of Coal in Odagbo, Onupi and Enjema by a private firm yet to carry out its Cooperate Social Responsibility, Hon Rabiu urged the youths of the communities not to take laws into their hands but allow the community and the company to have a legal agreement beneficial to both parties.
Speaking on behalf of Enjema and Ojoku districts respectively, Achimi Ademu and Abel John thanked Hon Rabiu and assured him judicious use of the fund, noting that a committee will be set up to identify the pressing need of the districts quickly.
Speaking at the event, the chairman of the occasion, Hon Seidu Odoma extolled Hon Rabiu’s exemplary leadership, describing it as the first of its kind in the history of democracy in Ankpa local government area and by extension, Kogi state. Amongst other speakers, The Administrator 1 of Ankpa local government area, Hon Ayuba Mohammed Ibrahim said Hon Rabiu was the first elected officer that has brought democracy to the rural people in practical. While urging thanking Hon Rabiu for his love for the people of Ankpa ii, Hon Ayuba urged the people to continue to give their support to the member for more dividend of democracy.
Present at the occasion were Alhaji Isiaka Alfa (Wa’ali), Member, representing Ankpa federal constituency, Hon Hassan Omale, Commissioner for Rural Development, Enema Paul, Administrator 1 of Ankpa local government area and his appointees, Hon Aduga John, Hon Danjuma Oando, Hon Jonathan Nathaniel, APC local government chairman Hon Khamilu Abdullahi and other executive members, APC ward chairmen and other ward excos, APC local government and ward leaders, party stakeholders, women and youth organisations, friends and well wishers.
Mrs Rabiu Momoh also used the occasion to distribute Sallah gifts to women of Ankpa ii constituency. The occasion was marked with refreshment and entertainment.
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