Nsit Ubium Multiple Projects Carpet House of Assembly’s ‘Underperforming’ Label

Nsit Ubium Multiple Projects Carpet House of Assembly’s ‘Underperforming’ Label

The inclusion of Nsit Ubium Local Government Area among councils described as underperforming by the Mfon Idung led Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs has raised questions, with a record of projects and people-oriented interventions executed by the administration of the Chairman, Hon. Alfred Charles, appearing to present a contrasting picture.

In its report on the inspection tour of the 31 local government areas, the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, chaired by Rt. Hon. Mfon Idung, listed Nsit Ubium alongside Mkpat Enin, Abak, Esit Eket, Ikono and Udung Uko as councils which, in the committee’s assessment, did not demonstrate a satisfactory level of project execution commensurate with funds received.

The committee said it observed inadequate infrastructural development and poor utilisation of resources in the affected councils.

However, available records of projects and interventions attributed to the Alfred Charles led administration over the past 24 months present a substantially different picture of activity in Nsit Ubium.

Among the major projects is the newly redeveloped Model Market, The Urua Ntakrok, comprising three blocks of lock-up stores with 36 stores, 378 partitioned open stalls, six open shades, toilet facilities, a generator house, water facilities, market offices and solar-powered lighting. This project is the single biggest market project executed by any local government chairman.

The project was commissioned in July by Governor Umo Eno, represented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Frank Archibong.

At the commissioning, the Governor, through his representative, commended Hon. Charles for what was described as a people-centred grassroots development initiative and urged other local government chairmen to emulate the approach.

The State Government’s commendation was particularly significant because the market project was accompanied by a ₦100 million empowerment programme for traders in Nsit Ubium. Beneficiaries received financial assistance to support trading, small businesses, farming and other economic activities.

The chairman’s record also includes the establishment of a ₦100 million Nsit Ubium Educational Trust Fund, with an initial batch of 53 students receiving scholarships in higher institutions across the country.

The Chairman has also purchased JAMB/UTME forms for more than 500 candidates, sponsored tutorial classes for prospective JAMB candidates and proposed bursary support for 640 undergraduates and 100 postgraduate students.

In the area of ICT and digital education, the administration procured 170 additional computers for the Patience Umo Eno ICT Centre, bringing the centre’s computer capacity to about 250, while the facility was accredited by JAMB as a Computer-Based Test centre. The council also installed solar power infrastructure and provided 24-hour internet service at the centre.

Again, this was and still is the first
Computer-Based Test centre embarked on by a council chairman and approved by the JAMB.

Beyond education and commerce, the chairman also distributed 20,000 educational materials to 38 primary schools, conducted a free medical and surgical outreach that benefited almost 2,000 people, drilled solar-powered boreholes with overhead tanks and reticulation in communities including Ndiya Ikot Ukap, Ikot Uso and Ndukpoise, and graded more than 30 rural roads across the local government.

Other ongoing and completed interventions include the construction of an executive building with 17 offices and two conference halls, construction of multiple compassionate homes for the poor, installation of solar-powered streetlights, renovation and furnishing of the council conference hall, chairman’s office, executive council chamber and legislative chamber, and furnishing of supervisors’ offices.

The council premises have also been secured with a perimeter fence measuring about 1,666 metres, while security at the secretariat has been strengthened through a partnership involving Nigeria Peace Corps personnel.

To further consolidate on the ARISE Agenda of the Governor on Agriculture, The chairman acquired a one-hectare demonstration farm, vocational training for 22 indigenes in partnership with the Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre, payment of school fees and hospital bills for residents, financial assistance to youths, waste-management activities under the “Keep Nsit Ubium Clean” initiative and employment of casual workers.

A major point of contention therefore emerged during Tuesday’s plenary when the report came up for consideration.

The Member representing Nsit Ubium State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Otobong Bob and the Leader of Akwa Ibom State Assembly legislative council, questioned the inclusion of Nsit Ubium on the list of underperforming councils, pointing specifically to the projects and empowerment programmes implemented under Alfred Charles led administration

Bob argued that a council which had empowered its people with millions of naira, constructed a modern market and embarked on compassionate housing and other development projects should not have been categorised alongside councils considered to have performed poorly. He consequently called for Nsit Ubium to be removed from the report.

The disagreement by the learned Leader of the Assembly is particularly noteworthy against the background of the committee’s own earlier interaction with Nsit Ubium during its statewide oversight exercise.

The committee’s inspection tour was intended to assess projects funded with local government resources and determine their impact on residents.

The available record shows interventions spanning commerce, education, healthcare, ICT, rural roads, water supply, agriculture, housing, security, sanitation and council infrastructure.

For a council that has commissioned a major market project, committed ₦100 million to trader empowerment, established a ₦100 million education trust fund, supported hundreds of prospective university students, upgraded its ICT centre to CBT status, undertaken medical outreach, graded more than 30 rural roads and embarked on additional infrastructure projects, calls for questioning the composition of members of the committee and the motives for such pronouncement.

(SEE PHOTOS)