CRS Forum of former Assembly Members Receives Legislative Backing for Welfare Support, Secretariat
Hannah ARIKPO
The Speaker of the Cross River state tenth Legislative Assembly Rt Hon. Alvet Ayambem has vowed to ensure legislative backing towards the welfare of former members of the house of Assembly in the state.
He also promised to pay for an office space for the forum and tasked his former colleagues to search for a convenient office space as well as a place for relaxation to be used as the forum's secretariat for its activities.
The Speaker who made the pledge when he granted audience to members of the forum of former Assembly members in his chambers promised to provide chairs among other things.
Hon Ayambet stressed the need for former legislators to live comfortably after serving Cross River State meritoriously through an unbiased representation of the people at one point in time, hence the provisions for a bill to support the welfare of one time legislators and a secretariat where they can always converge to discuss important issues affecting them both at the state and Nation.
On litigation of the forum, Speaker Ayambert was excited the case has lied low and advised members to leave the issues raised behind them and forge ahead and promised to create an opportunity for the forum to interface with the state Governor Senator Bassey Edet Otu whom he noted was a Legislator and also had similar experiences.
"I congratulate you all for representing your people in the Assembly some time ago.There is no better time than this to discuss issues affecting the forum of former Legislators. We are cognisance of the fact that those of us serving today would be referred to as former tomorrow. Therefore, my leadership and I will come up with a law to back up the welfare provision of members of this forum, I ask forum members to search for an office space, I will personally pay for it and provide fifty Chairs. Let us work as a team and move Cross River state forward." Ayambem remarked.
Speaking the Chief Whip and member representing Boki two state Constituency, Rt Hon. Hillary Bisong described the issues raised during the visit as paramount bearing in mind their positive response to the needs of the forum will mean laying a good foundation for their welfare also, since they are potential members to the forum after service.
The Legal Adviser and member of the forum Hon. Emmanuel Idaka explained that aggrieved members of the forum filed a case at the Industrial court to seek redress against what he termed 'faulty implementation of allowances of public office holders which the court ruled in their favour.
Earlier, Chairman forum of former members of Cross River House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Okpo Nkponam represented by the Vice Chairman Rt Hon. Mom Olom disclosed that the gorum is made up of past Legislators who had served in the state house of Assembly with focus on the Welfare of its members and expressed hope for a healthy interactive session with members of the CRS 10th legislative assembly during the visit.
The forum Chairman requested a functional Secretariat, support for Welfare of members as well as intervene in the allowances of public office holders for proper implementation of the industrial Court ruling as it affects the forum.
