Saturday 6th June, 2020
From the office of the Deputy Speaker, & member representing Ankpa 1 constituency, Rt. Hon. Ahmed Mohammed.
365 legislative days: Our Journey so far (in summary)/message to my constituents.
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Today 6th June, 2020 marks exactly 365 days i took oath of office with other distinguished honourable members of the seventh assembly to represent the people of Ankpa 1 state constituency in the Kogi Sate House of Assembly. I was also nominated by my colleagues to serve as the Deputy Speaker. I give thanks and pray to Almighty Allah for the journey so far, and i congratulate all of us, not only for the time we have spent, but also for all that we have achieved together within the short time and all that we have planned to achieve for our people.
I thank the people of my constituency for their love, confidence and support I have enjoyed over the years as a state legislator. I want to assure you that I am fully committed to continue representing your various and collective interests and aspirations.
We have had landmark achievements in plenary sittings, organizing constituency stakeholders meetings simultaneously with constituents, effective oversight activities and in responding earnestly to the people in needs.
On the floor of the house, I have raised motions on critical issues that bother on the welfare of my people. For so many years, the people of Ankpa 1 constituency have been badly threatened by Erosion Menace. This problem had affected our agricultural productivity, our economic activities, our houses, schools, and places of worships. I raised this motion calling on the attention of the state government to immediately come to our rescue to arrest the situation. I also sponsored a Bill titled; A BILL FOR A LAW TO ESTABLISH THE KOGI STATE EROSION CONTROL AND PREVENTION COMMISSION, 2019. This Bill seeks to provide for the establishment of the Erosion Control and Prevention Commission as a statutory body and to vest it with the responsibility to prevent, manage, control and redress erosion in the affected Local Government Areas of the State. The State Government has supported in its own way by releasing counterpart funding to the Nigerian Erosion and Watershed Management Project – NEWMAP Kogi State and in communities like Enokpoli/Area 1 Road, Ogaji St. Charles Oturkpo Road, C.E.F.N Church Road down Ofejiji Road to the River Bank, Olubojo Straight Road, Olubojo Street and Water Side Imabolo Road will all be Constructed with Asphalt and Drainages.
I sponsored A BILL FOR A LAW TO REPEAL AND RE-ENACT KOGI STATE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION ANKPA TO DEGREE AWARDING INSTITUTION AND OTHER MATTERS CONNECTED THEREWITH 2019, and also moved a motion of urgent public importance calling on the state government to immediately declare a state of emergency on all government public schools in Kogi State.
The attainment of a Degree awarding institution to Kogi State College of Education Ankpa would also enhance the operation of the college to achieve its mission and vision to constantly attract, develop and graduate competent, knowledgeable and talented individuals from the institution. And so many other Vital motions of importance to the people.
In other areas within and beyond our coverage, we have been responsive to the people. My major focus was on the education sector to see how we can assist the younger ones get quality education. I increased the number of beneficiaries of my scholarship scheme from Secondary to University Level, assisted Govt and private institutions in the areas of basic amenities and also assisted so many youths in payment of school fees, JAMB, WAEC/NECO/NABTEB registration. I have also tried as much as possible to empower women, youths who came up with a good business plans and ideas, and needed capital to start a business; we encourage good and productive ideas and mentorship where necessary. I know how difficult things are, and how rough business is. I have tried within my resources to see how we can assist the elderly and the widows, by supporting them with finance to either start up or manage a business, and also cater for themselves and their families.
I also undertook a project of providing a befitting building for disabled women and widows in Ankpa LGA to be commissioned soon along with the water project for Ubokpo community and Ubelle community in Ankpa LGA. We also intend to come up with other means of providing support to the women to sustain their livelihood.
With the little resources at our disposal, coupled with the fall in the nations economy which affected all states due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I provided food items and cash, sanitizers, protective mask as palliative measures to ease the spasms associated with the temporal lockdown and to prevent the spread of the novel Corona Virus in the grassroots.
I want to specially thank the traditional rulers, religious heads, party leaders, stakeholders, friends, colleagues and well wishers for your advises, suggestions, prayers, and of course, constructive and objective criticism where necessary. I wish to reiterate that I am passionately committed to uphold the mandate of the good people of Ankpa 1 constituency as stated in my campaign. We shall remain undaunted and resolute in our resolve to take Ankpa LGA to a greater height.
Let’s do more for our people collectively.
Signed;
Rt. Hon. Ahmed Mohammed
Deputy Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly
& member representing Ankpa 1 Constituency
Saturday 6th June, 2020