#MARKOFEFFECTIVEREPRESENTATION: NSIT ATAI AGOG AS HOUSE MEMBER BRIEFS, EMPOWERS CONSTITUENTS

The city of Nsit Atai Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State was brought a stand-still on Wednesday for the Constituency Briefing/Empowerment programme of the member representing Nsit Atai State Constituency at the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Elder) Mark Esset.

Held at Odot, the capital city of Nsit Atai LGA, the epoch-making event, tagged “#MarkOfEffectiveRepresentation”, the first of its kind in the history of the local government, witnessed market women, various youth groups, traders and traditional rulers in large numbers, defile the scorching weather to honour the occasion.

While delivering his speech ‘Our faith tells us to believe in tomorrow’, Hon. Mark Esset thanked his constituents for finding him fit, out of the over thirty thousand sons and daughters of the local government, to represent them at the State House, not because he is the best, saying that it is God’s Grace that has been sufficient from the beginning, and added that he had always wished and hoped for a time Nsit Atai would be a force to reckon with in the political affairs of the state.

The feasibly-elated Lawmaker poured encomiums on the state Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, and his wife, Martha, whom he said have shown dedication and selflessness in their leadership style, saying that the exemplary approach to governance of the Governor has brought sustainable developmental strides in the various sectors of the economy for the Akwa Ibom person.

“I am encouraged daily by your sincerity of purpose, and am determined to continue to contribute within my capacity any where I find myself to the development of my people. I have chosen to rise with you and every other Akwa Ibom child to greatness under your leadership.”

Giving account of his representation, Hon. Esset noted that over the years, he has worked diligently to live up to the promises he made to his people during his campaigns – to build a better future for Nsit Atai, uplift the poor, empower the underprivileged and create wealth in the smallest capacity he can.

He gave summary of an appraisal of what he has done so far in his tenure as the member representing Nsit Atai in Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly to include co-sponsoring of thirteen (13) private member bills namely: a bill for a law to establish the consumer protection agency, to provide for the protection of the interest of consumers, settlement of consumer disputes and for connected purposes; bill to make provision for local government administration law in Akwa Ibom State and matters connected therewith; A bill for a law to implement a sustainable Youth Policy Framework through the establishment of Akwa Ibom youth Development Fund and other matters connected herewith; a bill for a law to amend the Akwa Ibom State college of Arts and Science Law; a bill for a law to regulate and control Cattle Grazing in Akwa Ibom State and other matters connected herewith; a bill for a law for the protection of investors and investment in Akwa Ibom State and other matters connected therewith; and a bill for a law to protect the physically challenge person against all forms of discrimination and to provide for equal opportunity to all.

Others are a bill for a law to amend the newspaper law and for other matters connected therewith; a bill for a law to establish Akwa Ibom State constituencies Projects Development Fund and other matters connected herewith; a bill to provide for the prudent management of the state revenue to ensure long-term macroeconomics stability of the state economy and other matters connected herewith; a bill for a law to make provision for the establishment of Akwa Ibom State social housing scheme and other establishment of an agency to manage the scheme and for other matters connected therewith; a bill a law to establish the Akwa Ibom State safety commission and other related matter therewith; and a bill for a law to provide for the establishment of an Agency which will promote and implement the Akwa Ibom State Insurance scheme and for other matters connected therewith.

Rt. Hon. Mark Esset has moved three (3) Motions at the floor of the House under matters of urgent public importance such as a motion on the need to stop the abuse of traditional injunctions by some village heads; a motion on the need to recognise Ibedu, Essien Itiaba, Ibia Ikot, and Ndisiak Clans of Nsit Atai local government area by the state government; and a motion on the outbreak of herbivorous and crop disease in Akwa Ibom State.

The House member has, through various projects and programmes, impacted Nsit Atai State constituents positively part of which include facilitation of the construction of Ibiakot Unity Hall and the renovated class room blocks in Okoro Atai, as well as repaired and aided the construction of boreholes in the state constituency.

Through recommendation to Inter-ministerial Direct Labour Committee, he has attracted renovation projects to various schools in the constituency including Q.I.C School, Ikot Ekpot; Primary School, Ikot Abasi Nsit; Primary School, Ikot Ubok Udom; Government Secondary School, Ikot Akpan Ike; Primary School, Ibedu Idikpa and QIC Primary School, Iwok.

Also, he has, through a recommendation to the state Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour, attracted a transformer to Ikot Abasi Nsit to restore electricity after over 20 years of their stay in darkness. He paid counterpart funding of over N4 million to facilitate the World Bank Assisted Community Development Programmes (CSPD) in four communities of Nsit Atai, while plans have been concluded to extend same in other four communities of Nsit Atai.

Over 25 youths have been empowered with the sum of N100,000 each while 50 others received N50,000 start ups grants for small and medium scale businesses in the first and second phases of human empowerment respectively. About 11 motorcycles were given to the ten women and another 11 motorcycles to men. All the 75 unit co-ordinators of the constituency were also empowered.

Five students of different tertiary institutions have benefited in the educational development/scholarship programmes of the House member while the payments of school fees and grants as well as financial aids for research projects and law school students are done as needs arise without recourse to any record keeping.

Currently, Hon. Mark Esset is running a leadership, mentorship and entrepreneurial programme for over 30 selected youths and has bought JAMB forms for over 100 students of Nsit Atai and fully paid for extra-moral lessons and coaching classes for all of them.

Various items including 13 mini buses, five cars, 12 hair dyers, 12 sewing machines, computer sets, power generating sets, complete sets of volcanising equipment, and motorcycles were given to beneficiaries.

The event was graced by the state Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Barr.) Onofiok Luke, represented by his deputy, Obonganwan Rt. Hon. (Barr) Felicia Bassey; members of the 6th Assembly; Sir Emem Akpabio; Akwa Ibom State PDP Chairman, Obong Paul Ekpo; Commissioners, parents of the House Member, Pastor and Mrs Okon Esset; Nsit Atai political leader, Otuekong Raphael Bassey; elders, traditional rulers, women, and youth groups,

By Umoh-Obong Kingsley