Politics | IMHA sets Adhoc Committee to investigate illegal Mines and Solid Minerals Collectors
IMHA sets Adhoc Committee to investigate illegal Mines and Solid Minerals Collectors
In A Bid To Put A Stop To All Illegal Activities And Collection Of Fees In All The Dredging Sites In The State, And Also, Ensure There Is Increased Revenue For The State Government, The Imo State House Of Assembly Has Set Up An Adhoc Committee To Investigate The Activities And Collection Of Illegal Fees In All The Dredging Sites In The State.
Speaking On The Matter, The Chief Sponsor Of The Motion And Member Representing Aboh Mbaise State Constituency, Hon Chief Eddy Obinna Expressed Sadness Over The Way And Manner The Imo State Government Have Been Losing Revenue Through The Activities Of Charlatans, Touts And Other Criminal Elements, Who Have Been Operating A Criminal Cartel Of Unauthorized People Who Move From One Dredging Site To The Other, Collecting Revenue Illegally, Without Issuance Of Receipts.
These Activities, According To Hon Chief Eddy Obinna, Has Contributed In No Small Measure To The Dwindling Revenue Status Of The State Government.
The Motion Was Seconded By Hon Cyriacus Heclus Okoro, Member Representing Ohaji/Egbema State Constituency.
The Motion Was Supported By Hon Samuel Ogbunikpa Of Okigwe State Constituency, Who Thanked The Chief Sponsor (Hon Eddy Obinna) For His Resourcefulness In Initiating The Motion.
The Motion Which Was Co-Sponsored By The Deputy Speaker (Rt Honourable Amarachi Chyna Iwuanyanwu), Hon Samuel Otuibe, Hon Kanayo Onyenaechi, Hon Philip Ejiogu, Hon Chigozie Nwaneri, Rt Honourable Chiji Collins, Hon Cyriacus Heclus Okoro And Hon Samuel Ogbunikpa Received Overwhelming Endorsement From Other Members. While Hon Kanayo Onyenaechi, Majority Leader And Member Representing Owerri West Constituency, Described The Motion As Good, Timely And Encouraging, He However Argued That Inviting The Commissioner For Mines And Solid Minerals Should To Give Explanation On The Illegal Activities And Collection Of Fees, Should Be Included As One Of The Prayers Of The Motion.
Responding, Hon Chief Eddy Obinna Explained That The Commissioner For Mines And Solid Minerals, Including The Permanent Secretary In The Ministry, Were Newly Appointed, Therefore, Inviting Them Would Not Produce The Desired Result.
Hon Johnson Duru Of Ideato South State Constituency, Who Also Supported The Motion, Called For The Submission Of Lists Of Consultants, Not Only From The Ministry Of Mines And Solid Minerals, But From All Other Ministries.
Cyriacus Heclus Okoro, Who Had Earlier Seconded The Motion, Explained That Since The State Government Has Limited Funds, Accruable Funds Should Not Be Frittered Away Through Illegal Activities And Collection Of Fees.
Hon Michael Crown Of Ihitte/Uboma State Constituency Also Supported The Motion, But Insisted That Every Revenue In The State Should Be Accounted For. He Called On All The Ministries And Agencies To Account For Consultants Working For It. Hon Michael Crown Also Called For A Boost In Revenue Generation For The State.
Before The Rt Honourable Speaker, Barrister Kennedy Chidozie Ibeh, Put The Motion For Adoption, He Commended The Chief Sponsor Of The Motion, For His Patriotism And Desire For The State Government To Have Increased Revenue Base. When The Speaker Put The Motion For Adoption, It Was Unanimously Adopted With No Dissenting Voice .. Thereafter, Rt Honourable Kennedy Chidozie Ibeh Ruled As Follows:
Be It Resolved By This Honourable House To Urge Commissioner For Mines And Solid Minerals, Imo State, To Investigate The Activities Of These Illegal Revenue Consultants Collecting Money Illegally From Members Of The Tippers Association, Miners And Drivers In The State.
Be It Also Resolved That The Ministry Of Mines And Solid Minerals, Imo State, Set Up Monitoring And Technical Team For All Dredging Sites In The State And Ensure Any Revenue Accruable To The State From These Mines Routes Be Collected By The Appropriate Authorities And Remitted To The Treasury Single Account, TSA, Accordingly.
And Be It Also Resolved That An Adhoc Committee Of The House Be Set Up, To Investigate Totally And Wholly, The Activities Of Mines And Solid Minerals, With A View To Unearthing Illegal Mining Operations In The State.
Subsequently, The Ebullient, Proactive And Vibrant Speaker Set Up A Six-Man Adhoc Committee Led By The Majority Leader, Kanayo Onyenaechi, As Chairman, While The Following Are Members; Hon Chief Eddy Obinna, Hon Barrister Emeka Nduka, Hon Cyriacus Heclus Okoro, Hon Michael Crown And Hon Engr Johnson Duru. They Were Given Two Weeks To Submit Their Report.
Earlier Before The Sponsor And Adoption Of The Motion, The Speaker Commended The Bye-election That Took Place In Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area, Describing It As Victory For Democracy. He Thanked The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, For Job Well Done, While Congratulating Ngor-Okpala People And APC Imo State. Also, He Sent Special Thanks To His Excellency The Governor of Imo State, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma, For Ensuring Peaceful, Free & Fair Election.
The House Adjourned Sitting To Tuesday 08/03/2022
