Members of the Imo State House of Assembly have frowned in totality, the indiscriminate and unhygienic display of consumable food items along streets in the State and in different markets.
The House did not only see it as unhealthy for consumers, but also an eyesore that defaces streets.
The motion geared towards checkmating this trend was moved by the Chief Whip of the 9th House, and Member representing Ideato North State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Innocent Arthur Egwim, at the yesterday’s plenary session.
Egwim in his debate said at times, people suffer from various sicknesses due to what they consume daily.
He frowned at the manner food items are being displayed in markets, without taking appropriate care of them, hence tagged it as reckless practice.
The Ideato North representive submitted that the Consumer Protection Council, CPC, Imo State, and other relevant agencies should brace up to the challenge in ensuring that both consumable food items, drinks and its environs are well taken care of.
Rt. Hon Uju Onwudiwe while contributing to the debate added that over 80% of Imolites suffer from what they eat, and called for appropriate sensitization.
Other contributors, Honorables; Dominic Ezerioha, Ngozi Obiefule, Uche Ogbuagu, all commended the mover of the motion, describing it as people oriented motion.
Some of the prayers of the motion reads,
“Whereas this House made a Law establishing Consumer Protection Council which part of the duty is to protect Imolites from purchasing substandard goods, contaminated and unhygienic consumable food items;
“Observing that food sellers and handlers in the State, either due to ignorance or crass disobedience to the extant Laws, expose consumable food items to contaminants, pathogens and unhealthy chemicals, all of which are injurious to health;
“Noticing that sellers of meat, vegetable, fruits and packed water with plastic materials, among others, are the worst offenders;
“Aware that packaged water with plastic wares, if exposed to sunlight, form noxious chemicals capable of causing cancer to innocent consumers of such wrongly exposed packaged water by sellers”.
After a robust debate, the House resolved as follows;
“To urge the Governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma to direct the Chairman, Imo State Consumer Protection Council and other relevant MDAs in the State to step up monitoring at market places, abattoirs, meat stalls and other such distribution points to ensure observance of proper hygiene in the display, storage and distribution of the consumable items as herein enumerated, to protect the consumers from untold health hazards from pathogens and noxious chemicals inherent in the insanitary food items”.
It was also resolved to urge the Governor to direct the Chairman, CPC and the Supervisory MDAs to organize enlightenment seminars for all the sellers and handlers of the foregoing consumable food items to improve their services and ensure good health for the good people of Imo State.
OVERSIGHT FUNCTION:
HEALTH COMMITTEE FROWNS AT DILAPIDATED HEALTH FACILITIES IN IMO, VISITS ORU EAST
Poised to providing efficient service delivery in virtually all the Health sectors across Imo State, the House of Assembly standing Committee on Health has continued its supervision/assessment tour.
The Committee led by Hon. Michael Onyemaechi Njoku, member representing Ihitte/Uboma State Constituency, alongside his Committe Members landed in Oru East LGA on Tuesday, March 3, 2021.
They visited the General Hospital Awo-Omamma, and Imo State School of post Basic Midwifery in Oru East LGA.
They decried the poor state of hospitals and health centres, pointing out that such place could be best said to be rodents den, rather than calling it health centres.
After taking eventries of what would be done to remedy the devastating condition of the clinics, Hon Onyemaechi Njoku enjoined the Management to take all Government efforts seriously.
Michael Crown further charged them to guard Government property jealousy like their own, especially with any funds government may map out for development of the health centres.
“Hospital is a place to cure sicknesses and carryout other health practices, not a place one will come and contract more ailments”.
Responding, the Management of the hospital outlined the challenges facing the hospital; ranging from dilapidated structure and apparatuses, lack of health personnel, as well as poor financing.
A more interesting aspect was a philanthropic display by Hon Onyemaechi Njoku, for offsetting the hospital bills of woman who delivered at the hospital.
CODIFICATION, CERTIFICATION, REGULATION OF CUSTOMARY MARRIAGES IN IMO SCALES FIRST READING
House of Assembly Bill No. 82; A bill for a law for codification, certification and regulation of customary marriages in Imo State has passed its first reading in the State Assembly.
The bill is chiefly sponsored by the Member representing Obowo State constituency, Rt. Hon. Barr. Kennedy Ibeh.
An overview of the bill, Trumpeta learnt, is hinged on the codification, certification and regulation of customary marriages across the 27 LGAs of Imo.
According to Rt. Hon. Kennedy Ibeh, the State Assembly has a vested right to legislate on customary marriages, stressing that it would effectively regulate on marriage rites and demands.
He said in some Imo communities, marriage of young couples has become on the strata of “highest bidder”, therefore making two people in love not to be joined in customary marriages.
The Obowo Lawmaker enlightened that there would be marriage register to serve as an official document that concretizes the coming together of two persons.
Hon Ibeh posited that under the law in view, all customary marriages have to be properly documented and kept in a secure place yet to be disclosed.
“Imolites would have every cause to be glad, by the time the bill scales through all legislative processes, and passed into law.
The second reading, according to the Speaker Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Paul Emeziem is slated for March 9, 2021.
UPDATE ON VAPP BILL:
A Bill for a Law to eliminate Violence in Private and Public Life, prohibit All Forms of Violence including Physical, Sexual, Psychological, Domestic, harmful Traditional Practices, Discrimination against Persons and to Provide Maximum Protection and Effective Remedies for Victims and Punishment of Offenders, has been committed to Committee of the Whole House slated for April 21, 2021.
A private member bill standing in the name of Rt. Hon. Uju Onwudiwe, member representing Njaba State Constituency.
ISINWEKE ROAD: IHITTE/UBOMA LEGISLATOR LEADS MOTION COMMENDING FERMA, ASKS FOR MORE
Hon. Michael Onyemaechi Njoku representing Ihitte/Uboma State Constituency in the Hallowed Chambers of Imo Legislative House, has commended the Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA, for their timely intervention in the reconstruction of the Isinweke 7½ Umuahia road.
Hon Njoku while presenting the motion during yesterday’s sitting voiced out that with the ongoing road construction, Isinweke would have a new facelift when completed.
Expressing gratitude for the reconstruction, Crown asked that they extend the work to Isinweke-Ikpere-Abueke-Ekeoba Enugu-Port-Harcourt Express road.
He opined that if not reconstructed, it may claim lives, considering the number of communities, LGAs and States it connects.
Honorable Kennedy Ibeh and Emeka Nduka, added that the roads in question are Imo Roads and will serve great need if reconstructed.
“Whereas the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) as the Agency concerned with road construction, improvement and connectivity between the States of Nigeria was called upon some time last year to look into the reconstruction of the Isinweke 7½ Umuahia road;
“Noting that FERMA did not delay in undertaking the reconstruction of that road which is currently ongoing;
“Worrisome that the Isinweke-Ikpere Abueke Ekeoba Enugu-Port-harcourt Express road is as bad if not worse than the Isinweke 7½ Umuahia road which FERMA is currently working upon;
“Cognizance of the fact that dilapidated roads can avail criminal elements in the society and can also lead to fatal accidents if not urgently attended to”.
However, it was resolved thus, “That FERMA be applauded for the ongoing reconstruction of the Isinweke 7½ Umuahia road, just few months after our cry to them;
“Be it also resolved by this Honourable House to urge FERMA to include the Isinweke-Ikpere Abueke Ekeoba Enugu-Port-harcourt Express road in its rehabilitation process”.
