An Account of my Stewardship.
I will like to start this expository article by referencing a popular Bible verse from the Holy Gospel of Matthew Chapter 25 verse 40, it says “truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these my brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me”.
From 2003 to 2015, I was a distinguished member of the Nigerian National Assembly, first I was elected in the year 2003 to represent the good people of Osisioma/Obingwa/ Ugwunagbo Federal Constituency as a Honourable Member Federal House of Representatives as it pleases the Almighty God, in the year 2007, I was given the mandate by the good and adorable people of Abia Central Senatorial Zone to represent our people in the Red chamber which lasted from 2007 – 2011 and I was re-elected for the second tenure in 2011. Further more in the year 2016, I was appointed the Chairman Governing Board and Pro Chancellor University of Calabar by His Excellency President Muhammad Buhari.
Without meandering with the truth, I won’t have considered bringing back my past achievements as it is very clear that there is no future in the past but to keep the records straight it has become more expedient for me to open the books of my legislative activities and administrative activities as the Pro Chancellor University of Calabar for a public scrutiny.
I might not have done all things, I might not have done wonders but I will unequivocally say that my achievements as Legislature and Pro Chancellor is vindicating me.
It also imperative for me to use this medium to educate our people about the roles of the various arms of Government, the legislature, the executive and Judiciary. The sole and constitutional responsibility of the legislature is law making, executive is constitutional empowered to implement the law here it implies that provision of basic amenities and social Infrastructures is solely vested in the hands of the executive now judiciary the responsibility of the Judiciary is interpretation of the law through it relevant bodies like the courts, police and National rehabilitation centers.
Going by these, I will bring out tg cardinal points of our legislative and adminstrative activities. The are (A)Education
(B) Employment
(C) Empowerment
(D) Basic Infrastructure and social amenities.
(E) Legislative activities
(F) Administratives activities.
EDUCATION
Sound Education is the foundation for any sustainable development and one of the most fundamental instruments through which the society can be transformed. Education equips people with the needed knowledge, skills and competences which will make them contribute to the development of their society. With these in mind, I vigorously pursue any cause that will help improve educational standard of my people.
This one year is not an exception. I have succeeded in attracting projects worth N500 million to the Federal University of Agriculture, Umudike.
I also attracted another N250 million project to the Immaculate Heart Secondary School, Umungasi, Osisioma Ngwa.
In the same spirit of educational empowerment, I facilitated the award of NNDC Post Graduate scholarships to Engineer CY Ahukanna. In the same vain, Engineer Uloma Anaba and Chibunna Ukoh, benefited from PTDF post Gradate Scholarship Programme in United Kingdom.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, beloved brothers and sisters, looking at the duration under review, I must say that we have recorded tremendous success. I owe these achievements to your support and your prayers.
However, we can never consider what we have achieved to be sufficient because we must, and we are determined to accomplish even more and greater tasks by God’s Grace.
MY LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES
Permit me at this juncture, to highlight some of my salient achievements in the Senate. I have remained actively involved in the activities of the senate through constructive debates, bills, motions, resolutions and the enactment of requisite laws that will help to move this country forward.
As the chairman of the Senate Committee on Gas Resources, we have taken concrete steps in ensuring that Nigeria begins to fully maximize her gas potentials for the economic development of the country.
My committee is the process of ensuring that the quantity of gas produced and utilization in Nigeria. But since I assumed office as the chairman of the committee, we have invited all relevant government agencies and International Oil Companies to the National Assembly to explain why Nigeria’s gas is not well measured and accurately accounted for. Through the meetings, we have discovered the problems and we are bent on tacking them.
Oversight Functions:
In fulfillments of our responsibility of supervising, monitoring and evaluating the activities of the executives as it relates to gas exploration and development, we have gone for oversight to some gas producing to some gas producing companies in the country within the last one year. Some of them are— Nigeria Liguidified Natural Gas (NLNG) in Bonny Island; Escravos Gas to Liguide plant in Delta State; Nigeria Gas Company in Warri, OK LNG in Ondo, Department of Petroleum Resources-DPR, LAGOS and many others. We intend to visit the Brass LNG in Bayelsa.
BILLS AND MOTIONS
In this 7th Senate, I have initiated bills and introduced motions aimed at improving the wellbeing of Nigerians and as well as the developments of the country. The bills and motions are highlighted thus:
BILLS
a. A Bill for an Act to amend the petroleum Act (Cap P. 10 2004) and other Matters Related Therewith 2012.
b. A Bill for an Act to amend the companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) (Cap C 20 2002) and for other Matters Related Therewith. 2012
MOTIONS
a. The effects and consequences of Over-enrolment in our Universities
b. The Need to site a Creche within the National Assembly Premises
c. Regulation and management of Dormant Accounts in Nigerian Banks
d. Motion to Mandate the senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions to conduct a public hearing on the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC)
e. Motion on CBN’s special Audit Exercise of Ten Commercial Banks
f. Appearances of Threats to the stability of Nigeria’s Banking Sector and Related Matters.
It is pertinent to mention that from 2007 when you first gave me your mandates to represent you in the senate you in the senate, up to this moment, I have recorded tremendous milestones in my legislative assignments. You will recall that as the then chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions, I was instrumental for the restoration of the banking licenses of Societe General Bank of Nigeria Ltd and the Savannah Bank Nigeria Limited.
I equally introduced some motions which resulted to a lot of changes at the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. Some of such milestones are the introducing of Budget and Assumption Exercise or Cherry picking as well as the agreement by the CBN to pay in full, the individual deposit liabilities of the banks in liquidation, totaling about N10.2 billion. I must tell you that these were big reprieve to Nigerians.
During my first tenure in the Senate, I equally introduced the following bills:
I. Public Borrowing Act Amendment Bill 2009
ii. National Unity and Peace Corp (Establishment) Bill 2009.
iii. Establishment of E-Payment Bill 2009.
iv. The Asset Management Law of 2010.
Still in my capacity as the then chairman of the senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions, I identified inherent weakness in the following regulatory instruments:
a. Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007
b. Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation Act, 2006
c. Insurance Act and Regulations, 2003
d. Banks and Other Financial Institutions Acts, 2002.
It is very pertinent to note that I sponsored the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria bill which I used the advantage to give Barr. Ekele Nwaohammuo the first executive vice president of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria. It is on record
My very amiable people, without sounding immodest, I wish to say that I am a very versatile legislator. A part from effecting positive changes in the country through the two committees I have chaired, I have also been an active member of several other committees in the Senate from 2007 to date.
SENATE COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP (2011 – DATE)
Chairman, Senate Committee on Gas Resources
Member, Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions.
Member, Committee on Sports
Member, Committee on Appropriation
Member, Senate Adhoc Committee on Constitution Amendment
Member, State Adhoc Committee on Immortalization of Senators.
STATE COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP (2007-2011)
Chairman, Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions
Member, Committee on Interior
Member, Committee on Employment, Labour & Productivity.
Member, Committee on Constitution Review
ECOWAS PARLIAMENT
I am also a member of the ECOWAS Parliament. By my membership in this legislative institution, I form part of those who dialogue, consult and reach consensus on issues that affect the entire West African sub region. Membership in EDCOWAS Parliament is also a testament to my effectiveness in the process of law making, hence my participation through the ECOWAS Parliament.
With all of these highlighted, you will agree with me that the past one year has been very eventful and rewarding for us all.
But we are not here to only talk about the past achievements. This gathering is also an avenue for me to inform you my future plans as well as show open appreciation to some people who overwhelm supported me during the election.
MY ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE FIRST TENURE 2007-2010
You will agree with me that there can be no adequate planning for the future without conscious reflection on the past. As we stir our minds for the tasks which lie ahead, we also need to reflect on what we achieved in my first tenure. In 2007, when you first elected me as your senator, I promised among other things to:
1. Give scholarship to University Undergraduates.
2. Provide Interest Free Micro Credit Scheme through Co-operative Societies
3. Empower many through skill acquisition programmes
4. Facilitate Employment
5. Attract Federal Government projects to my constituents.
After four years, through God’s grace and by your support, I succeeded in fulfilling those promises and even went beyond my promises to do more for my people. Permit me to re-count such achievements.
AWARD SCHOLARSHIP: I awarded scholarship to 61 undergraduates selected from all the six local governments, including disabled students from each of the local governments, making it 30 students in all. This I did, giving each student N50,000 for varying periods. But when I saw the level of ned in this direction, I had to increase the number from 30 to 61.
Interest Free Micro Credit Scheme
To help enterprising men and women either establish businesses of their choice or consolidate on their existing trades, I requested them to form co-operative societies, one in each local government. Based on this, I disbursed a total of N6 million, with each local government getting N1 million.
SKILL ACQUISITION PROGRAMME
Under this programme, 200 persons selected from the six local governments were trained in various skills of their choice, after which they were provided with take-off capital and materials. I am glad to inform you that some of those beneficiaries now run very enterprising trades, courtesy of the training and cash they recived from me.
EMPLOYMENT FACILITATION
From 2007 to 2010, I facilitated the employment of over 40 people from Abia Central into different federal government agencies. Also, through my efforts, so many of my constituents were either redeployed to their choice locations, promoted or reinstated back to their jobs.
Permit me to also mention here that I was able to secure for my constituents, seven NDDC training slots in 2007, Nine slots in 2008 and Nine (9) slots in 2009.
GENERAL WELFARE
In my bid to ameliorate the suffering of my people, you will recall that during my “Thank you Tour in December 2007” I distributed food items, generating sets and cash to ensure that Christmas was well celebrated at the six L.G.A’s.
In 2008, food items, clothing materials as well as reasonable amount of money were evenly distributed to the State, L.G.A Executives, ward leader and individuals. Between 2008 and 2009, I donated over N2.5 million for the upkeep of our Party at the State level.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ATTRACTED PROJECTS
Between 2007 and 2010, I improved the quality of life of our people through diverse Federal Government projects which I attracted. The projects cut across health, education, rural electrification, I will not be able to mention them here. But a detailed list containing all my achievements in my first tenure is inserted for you to go through.
SELECTED CANDIDATES FOR SENATOR NKECHI NWAOGU’S SKILL ACQUISITION PROGRAMME—- 2012
ISIALA NGWA SOUTH LGA (SKILL ACQUISITION)
S/N NAMES WARD
1 NWAZUO MICHAEL
2 MADUAKOLAM IHEONUNEKWU
3 OKECHUKWU APOLLOS NJOKU
4 PAUL SUNDAY
5 UDO OBINNA
6 IKECHI ISIGUZO
7 UGORJI UBA STEPHEN
8 COMRADE KELVIN NWAUBANI
9 IKECHUKWU EZEBUGWU
10 CHINONSO AMAKO
11 ALLEN NGOZI
12 MODESTA SAMUEL
13 CHINEDU NWOGU
14 KANU OBIOHA
15 IHECHI JOMBO
16 BETTA CHIGBU
17 UBANI WOKOMA
18 JOHN OSUAGWU
19 MICHAEL NWAOGU
20 OKECHUKWU ONWUBIKO
21 NGOZI B. ALOZIE 1
22 MRS LOVETH IRONDI 2
23 OLUCHI OKPARA 3
24 CHIDINMA OHIA 4
25 UDOCHIRI CHIDI 5
26 AMUTA CHIMERENKA DAVID 5
27 VICTORIA ORIAKU 6
28 OGUGBUAJA CHAIRTY CHINONYE 7
29 REGINA OGBONNA 8
30 CONFIDENCE UGONZE ONYENSO 9
31 KINGSLEY AMADI 10
32 IHESIBA JINANWA
33 OSONDU OKWUONU
34 GOODNEWS UCHECHI CHIKEZA
The last but not the least, currently I am the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Board University of Calabar. In my capacity as the Pro Chancellor I will say that I have empowered our people through provision of white collar jobs and also helped in securing admission for our people. Due to confidential and security reasons I won’t be able to Publish the names of the beneficiaries but is ever ready to further verifications on this.