TOWN UNION MEETING OF 26TH FEBRUARY 2011

TOWN UNION MEETING OF 26TH FEBRUARY 2011
This meeting was a joint meeting between the Igwe in council and the town union

Tuberculosis info
One Chief Gilbert Umeh from Akama Oghe a (C.B.O) Community Based Organizer for Tuberculosis (T.B) project came to talk to us about T.B treatment (free treatment program) by Federal Government. He said that our community needs to appoint a volunteer, whose job will be to sensitize people individuals on the need to go and test for T.B when the symptoms are suspected. He said the Volunteer should also ensure that those being treated take their drugs as prescribed without missing a dose. Chief Ikechukwu Ogwudile volunteered to represent Amankwo Community and there was no objection to his representation.

Letter from the headmaster
A letter came from the head master of the Community Primary School Amankwo Imezi, Mr. Madukaife Innocent E. The letter was addressed to the chairman Amankwo Oghe Town union, according to a copy read by the Igwe in council secretary, Chief Edwin Okechukwu. The town union did not receive any copy of the letter.
According to the headmaster, the under listed problems are affecting the school seriously.
1) Shortage of teachers: Since after the UBE teacher left only 3 teachers were left in the school. Each teacher is now handling 2 classes instead of one. The School cannot afford N10, 000 salary of a UBE teacher, to retain at least one of them.
2) The desks (40 pupils seater) donated to the school by the State government are still at Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ESUBEB) Enugu, due lack of money to transport the seats home.
3) Poor enrolment; only about 3 pupils in a class is being recorded.

The PTA chairman, Chief. Ikechukwu Ogwudile said he is aware of the letter and that what the headmaster said is true. He lamented that the desk at Enugu has been there for a very long time but no money to bring them home. He said he informed Engr. Anigbo through a phone call. On the issue of enrolment, he said he knew when they were more than 84 pupils in the school but now that they are less than 24 pupils in the school.

One Mr. Emmanuel Udemadu, a town union member observed that teacher’s attitude contribute to this poor enrolment of pupils, that teachers do come to the school when they like. Though the P.T.A chairman defended the teachers, saying the day the teachers came, being referred by Mr. Udemadu was because of a meeting they went at Enugu.

Chief Ezedioramma from Amankwo Ndiagu said that the situation is worse at Amankwo Ndiagu Primary school. He said only the headmaster and one other teacher goes round the entire Primary 1-6 in the school.

Chief Ezedioramma said he has personally been going to the education office at Enugu to make request for teachers and that they have promised him to send some teachers.

Hon Festus Mambo in his opinion on how to resuscitate the schools said every body should join hand and make the schools better, he suggested forming a committee to look into the school. He said that using vigilante, as suggested by some people; to force children to the school will not solve the problem.

Igwe in his own contribution said that this house is the government that should say what will happen and enforce it. He said that the town union should keep the constitution aside and face the issue of the school, since it is of paramount important. Igwe said that our people are not doing what they are supposed to do. He pointed out that many people even among us here could not boast of coming home to participate in the recent voter’s registration exercise.

The Igwe’s secretary Chief Edwin Okechukwu said that the starting point of the progress of this community is to support the town union. He said that he read the Amankwo constitution prepared by the town union, and it was very good. He said he has never seen such a good job in Amankwo before and commended people that made it possible. He said that the constitution touched every aspect of the community. Chief Innocent Madueke in his support said that he has never seen Amankwo constitution before now. That the job done by the town union is the first of it’s kind.

Igwe and his cabinet demanded to know the opinion of the town union since none of its executives has said anything.

The town union secretary, Engr. Silas Anonde told the house that there is a very high disregard to the town union by the Igwe in Council. He said it is an insult to say that this community cannot afford to bring our desks from Enugu. He pointed out that most of the problems mentioned here, which the P.T.A chairman, confirmed, have never been related to the town union and that he is hearing it for the first time. He asked the P.T.A Chairman when he started chairing the P.T.A and from whom he took over from.
He equally told the house that he will not again entertain this type of time consuming debate on issues, like the resuscitation of the primary schools, which has wasted us the whole day without arriving at any conclusion. He said that joint meeting should be a forum for the town union to interact with the Igwe in council on the activities of the town union, to carry them along, while the council should also intimate the town union on their own activities. That issue like the school, should only be presented for the town union to go home and treat.

The town union president Mr. Nwabueze Chijioke said the sitting arrangement of this meeting made no provision for the town union, as all the executives, including himself, and members are seated at the back, as if we are not part of the meeting. He said this goes along to buttress the fact that the council has no regard to the town union as earlier mentioned by the secretary. He still demanded to know from the P.T.A chairman when he took over and he said he has served for 6 years.
The town union president informed the house that the Amankwo constitution has been written and signed. He made the chiefs to understand that constitutions are not made by the house of chiefs

It was agreed that the town union should go and treat the school issue. The Igwe in council wanted to know when another joint meeting should be held, the town union president told them that the town union should have their own meeting first before we talk about another joint meeting.

The secretary further addressed the house on the constitution. He said that the first draft of the constitution was made and read to the general Assembly of Amankwo in October 2010, after which copies were distributed to all the 15 wards, the Igwe in council and branches. He said that Abuja and Lagos branches were able to review the entire constitution and reported back to the constitution committee. Also Barrister, (Capt.) Peter Chinedu Ozoagu reviewed the entire constitution and reported back to the committee. Many other individuals made their contributions to the committee and all these were used to make up the final copy of the constitution

Engr. Anonde told the Igwe in council that the committee had expected contributions from the Igwe in council but did not receive any. He said that this implies that the council is in conformity with the job done by the committee. In reaction to this, Chief Paul Emehelu asked the secretary whether the Town union did not receive letter from the council on the issue of the constitution, when the second reading was made in November 2010. Engr. Anonde agreed that they received a letter from the council. He said the letter was an order by the Igwe in council to take the constitution to the Enugu local government development council for scrutiny. The secretary said their letter was ignored because it was expected that, the council should have reviewed the draft and make corrections, if need be, like others did. One other chief asked whether this constitution is Town union constitution or Amankwo constitution. The secretary said it is Amankwo constitution.

His Royal Highness, Igwe C.C. Obuke, in his effort to push the constitution aside went to his room and brought out a book that contained the traditional ruler’s by-laws and authorities and volunteered to give it to the town union executives for them to read and apply it’s provisions in the constitution. Igwe said he is doing this to make sure that what we did is in line with the laws of the country. The town Union president Mr. Nwabueze Chijioke, in response to that told Igwe that any association/organization or community has the right to make constitution. The only thing is that if any provision of such constitution is inconsistent to any superior constitution, such provision will be null and void, to the extent of inconsistency.

Cottage Hospital Land Lease agreement
H.R.H Igwe C. C Obuke said he want to seek the concept of the house to sign the land lease agreement, particularly the opinion of the Town union President. The house and the town union president asked Igwe to sign the agreement.

Other issues discussed was
1. The maintenance of the road.
2. Electricity pole that fell down during the road construction

Hon. Festus Magbo suggested that we should appeal to our brothers outside the community, to help us in the building of the community. he said it will be good if the problems in the community, like the road maintenance, payment of security, running expenses of the town union etc; are shared to various braches of the community development unions. His suggestion was accepted and the town union secretary was asked to write the letters.

On the issue of electricity pole, the town union president said those affected should see for the changing of the pole. That it is improper to ask people who have never benefited from the electricity to be contributing money for the pole that has fallen down.

The town union used this joint meeting as their March 2011 meeting, so the next meeting will be First Sunday in April. Also there will be stake holders meeting of the community during the Easter. The meeting is to be hosted by Sir Basil Ofor.