AKHA HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LANDS, HOUSING AND URBAN RENEWAL MEETS MANAGEMENT OF UCCDA

House Leader, Rt. Hon. Udo keirian

From left: Chief Whip, Emmanuel Ekpeyong And Chairman, Works & Transport Committee, Rt. Hon David Lawrence

Hon. Enobong Uwah

Aniekan Ebong

The chairman, Akwa Ibom State House committee on lands, housing and urban renewal of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Udo Kierian Akpan has expressed the Assembly's commitment to partner with the Uyo Capital City Development Authority in achieving the physical planning and development control vision of Governor Udom Emmanuel for the Capital City.


Rt. Hon. Udo Kierian Akpan made the pledge during an interactive session with the chairman of the Uyo Capital City Development Authority at the State house of Assembly complex, Udo-Udoma Avenue, Uyo

Receiving the UCCDA chairman  and his Management team, Rt. Hon. Akpan stressed the need for the State legislative arm to partner with MDA's in making relevant laws to facilitate the objectives of the Agency.

Rt. Hon. Udo Kierian who is also  the member representing Oruk Anam State constituency and the leader of the state house of Assembly, during the  meeting, requested the Agency to brief the House Committee on the projects of the Agency, challenges faced, achievements accomplished and the areas the Agency will require the State Legislature to work in partnership with for effective service delivery.

In his response, the chairman of Uyo Capital City Development Authority, Otuekong Enobong Uwah,  appreciated the house committee for the opportunity to meet with them and promised to work with the House committee to attain the Agency's set goals. Otuekong Uwah, while outlining the challenges he met, mentioned that his first mission was to provide lasting solution to the challenges he met. The challenges included, nonexistence of a permanent office complex, backlog of files for approval, among others.

Otuekong Uwah noted that the Agency was able to erect its permanent office complex, which was achieved within a year. He reiterated that the Agency's primary function is development control, while keeping pace with the fast growth of the capital city, and controlling the development in order not to trigger undesirable effect on the residents. He added that the Agency under his administration now gives building approvals within two weeks from date of submission of application.

Otuekong Uwah solicited the house committee to review the existing Laws, to empower the Agency carry out their assigned responsibilities effectively. He added that the current Laws cannot afford the Agency the power to make certain critical decisions that will develop the capital city in line with current realities.

The UCCDA helmsman also solicited the House Committee to press for an Insurance Law which will provide insurance covers  for buildings, in case of unforeseen circumstances, while calling on the State Lawmakers to sensitize their constituents on the need to stay-off Government Lands, maintaining that the Authority will not tolerate any encroachment on Government lands for any reason.

Reacting to question on the Agency's ad-hoc Staff, the UCCDA Boss informed the house committee on the proposal sent to the Head of Civil Service for ad-hoc staff of the Agency to be properly integrated into the Civil Service.

Rt. Hon. Udo Kierian while giving his reaction, commended the  Chairman of the Agency and his management team for the level of development control they have been able to establish within the capital city and pledged to work with the Agency to achieve more. He also proposed for a stakeholders meeting of all those involved in the housing sector of the State, so that the people will be sensitized on the need to work with the Development Agency,  adding that development control requires the cooperation of all the citizens of the State. The Lawmaker pledged to partner with the Agency to ensure that the Laws are  reviewed to accommodate the concerns raised for  development of the Capital City.

Rt. Hon. Akpan also promised to set up a committee that will ensure ad-hoc staff who have worked a certain number of years with the Agency to be properly integrated into the service.

The meeting had in attendance members of the State house committee on Lands, Housing and Urban Renewal, and the Management Staff of the Uyo Capital City Development Authority to include the Secretary and Head of Administration, Mr. Anietie Akpan.