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 moved by Hon Kingsley Ntui, the member representing Etung State Constituency on Tuesday 19 March 2024, the House resolved that the State owned property has to be recovered.
The Assembly’s Minority Whip, Hon. Omang Omang, representing Bekwarra State Constituency, expressed his dismay on the floor of the Assembly, at the extensive renovations being carried out without the State Government’s knowledge. He also pointed out 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.
Omang citing Section 128 of the Nigerian Constitution which empowers the House of Assembly to carry out an investigation, demanded 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 unlawfully privatize government assets.
Hon Neji Abang, the member representing Ikom 1 Constituency, Hon Okon Owuna, the member representing Akamkpa II, Hon Ovat Agbor, the member representing Obubra I, and other members of the Assembly called for the immediate suspension of the ongoing renovations on the building and its recovery back to the Cross River State Government. In addition, they demanded that the Assembly call on all parties engaged in the concession to provide a thorough explanation of the procedures followed before the property was handed to private individuals.
The Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly Rt 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 Governor Otu-led administration is the people-first administration and the House will do its best to support the actualization of the People’s First mantra.
