Month: August 2023

The All Progressive Congress earlier today received Hon. Michael Eja, a former Federal House of Representative aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party, in Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency and his teeming supporters in his political ward, Itigidi, Abi Local Government Area.

Hon. Michael Eja, a philanthropist and business tycoon, who stated lack of unity amongst other wrongs as his reasons for leaving the PDP, thanked the APC family for accepting him wholely and vowed to show even more strength than he did in his former party, PDP, for the growth and development of the APC.

Hon. Micheal Eja who lost the House of Representative ticket in PDP by whiskers, remains a household name across the 23 council wards of Abi/Yakurr and continues to enjoy sound and cordial relationship with his people.

Among those who defected was a serving Ex-Official of the PDP, Mrs. Christy Iza.

Cross River State Speaker, Rt Hon.Elvert Ayambem has appealed to the State leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress and members of the public who commenced protest against the recent increase in fuel price to shelve their protest.

Recall that on Wednesday, members of the NLC, TUC and other affiliate unions commenced protest in Calabar to demand that the government immediately address the harsh State of the economy.

Addressing the peaceful protesters at the Assembly Complex on Wednesday, Ayambem, pacify the protesters while promising that the Cross State government, under the leadership of Governor Bassey Otu will work on their demands.

He also assured the labour union that drastic changes will be done in order to meet up with their demands.

“I have been saying this a couple of times for those who care to listen. This assembly is like a postal agency where people come and deposit whatever and we will transmit to appropriate authority. It is on that light that I’m welcoming you to the assembly complex today.

“I am never against what you people are doing. It is only an insane person that would be against labor Union. You don’t buy from different market. We all buy from the same market. What is biting you is biting us. Where it’s itching you is equally itching us. I share in your pain, that if subsidy is removed let the application be done on your salaries and wages.

“I equally share in the pain of electricity tariff being skyrocketed. All of your concerns here are not out of place. So, I won’t tilt completely to the executive or the government. I won’t equally tilt completely to labour Union. I’m going to take a stand at the middle. But I will make sure that your sufferings are duly I can tell you that on authority.

“I come from a family background and I know a couple of times I’d have to step down from so many things so that my younger ones could breathe. I think if I could do that as an individual, the federal government should also step down on a couple of things so that the citizens can breathe.

“I’m going to engage the Governor immediately he comes in. People who know the Governor here knows that if he says yes he means yes. If he says no he means no. I am saying this with utmost clarity and authority that when I deliberate with the Governor you will see changes.

“The Governor owes us a duty, interacting with the federal government because there’s a chain of command. You have deposited it here. I’m going to raise the concerns with the Governor who will in turn raise it with Mr. President.

The Cross River State House of Assembly under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, has turned down the confirmation of Mrs. Gladys Eutamdala, Commissioner nominee from Yakurr Local Government Area.

According to the Committee Chairman on Judiciary, Hon. Davis Etta, Mrs. Gladys Eutemdala’s commissioner nomination was met with several petitions from some Yakurr indigenes, who raised some critical issues of great public concerns against her.

Speaker, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, in line with the petitions raised against Mrs. Gladys, turned down her nomination.

”the current State Assembly is that of the people, and must respect and first protect the interest of the people.”, Elvert noted.

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Cross River State House of Assembly under the leadership Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, has confirmed Dr. Justin Atiang Beshel, Commissioner nominee from Obanliku Local Government Area, alongside ten (10) other nominees sent by Governor Bassey Otu.

The eleven (11) nominees were confirmed on Tuesday following a screening at the hallowed chamber of the State Assembly. The exercise was presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem.

The development came days after Cross River State Governor, Sen Prince Bassey Otu appointed the 26 Commissioners and wrote to the State Assembly, seeking their confirmation.

Eleven commissioners were confirmed in day one of the confirmation exercise, and four of the eleven-confirmed commissioners are Hon. Agnes Atsu (Obudu), Dr. MC Angioha (Obudu), Dr. Stephen Odey (Yala), Hippolatus Lukpata (Yala).

Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, was recently honored with the prestigious Best Legislature Award of the Year 2023 by Officials Nigeria Magazine, an Abuja-based print media organization.

The award ceremony took place on Tuesday, 1st August 2023, in his office in Calabar, where Miss Bless Sambo, a staff member of Official Nigerian Magazine, presented the award. She highlighted that the recognition was in acknowledgment of Elvert’s exceptional performance as a legislator, showcasing dedication to transparency, accountability, and good governance for the benefit of the people.

Expressing gratitude for the award, Hon. Elvert Ayambem humbly stated that he felt honored to be recognized for his initiatives and efforts in fulfilling the statutory mandate of the House of Assembly and serving his immediate constituency, which elected him to the 10th Assembly.

Elvert emphasized that the award served as motivation to continue striving for the advancement of good governance in Cross River State. He pledged to redouble his efforts to promote the development and economic growth of the state while instilling trust and confidence in the people he serves.

The Honourable lauds the Officials Nigerian Magazine for the honor and recognition bestowed upon him. He acknowledged that this achievement was an encouragement to continue pushing the frontiers of good governance and serve as a guiding light for aspiring legislators and the youth.

Ministerial Nominee from Cross River State and Former APC National Women Leader, Dr Betta Edu , says Nigeria must travel at the speed of light to achieve universal Health Coverage the legislature and Executive arm of government have a pivotal role to play in ensuring rapid implementation of policies that would keep doctors in the country instead of pushing the brain-drain.

Edu said this when she appeared before the 10th National Assembly for Ministerial Screening at the Senate Chambers on Monday.The former Cross River State Commissioner For Health and Chairman of Nigeria Health Commissioners Forum who gave intelligent answers was reacting to series of questions thrown at her by Distinguished Members of the 10th Senate across geopolitical Zones noted that government have a role to play in retaining health workers. working out better welfare packages for them and their families, good working environment with functional facilities from the Primary Health Centres to the teaching hospitals is key.

“I want to put it clearly on record and by the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards, we need one doctor per 600 persons in a population. We need to make health insurance functional and improve primary health care.

She also noted that Nigerian Women needs empowerment from grassroots all the way up while thanking President Bola Tinubu for ensuring Women are given fair representation by the recent nomination and appointment so far. She called on the legislature to formulate bills that will support, improve, protect and empower Nigerian women.