AMANKWO OGHE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING

AMANKWO OGHE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING
Held on 1st January 2012 at Amankwo Imezi Primary School

The meeting started at about 3pm with an opening prayer said by Mr. Mike Ojide. The secretary general, Engr. Silas Anonde, before he read the agenda for the day’s meeting, apologized on behalf of the executives for starting the meeting behind schedule. He said it was because of the mass that was just concluded at the primary school hall, which the town union was not aware it was going to take all that time. He promised a better arrangement in future.

Because of time the house agreed we go straight to the business of the day without reading the previous minute. The president General, Mr. Nwabueze Chijioke, was unavoidable absent as he was not in the country, so the meeting was presided over by the Vice President Mr. Innocent Okechukwu. The Vice President in his opening speech thanked everybody for their patient. He explained what the composition of Amankwo Oghe General Assembly meeting should be and the duties assigned to the body by the constitution. He said the General Assembly is the apex in decision and policy making in the community.

Implementation of the constitution
The secretary made it known to the house that the constitution provided for 123 members to make up town union, comprising 3 people from each of the 15 wards and 2 people from each of the 39 recognized age grades. He regretted that the town union never had up to 40% attendance in their past meetings. He said that letters were recently sent to the age grades requesting them to send people to the town union. He said though the constitution provided for a penalty for absentees but the town union wants this house to help to proffer solution. One of the measures proposed by the town union was to deny the defaulting wards/age grades any of the entitlements that could come from the town union/government until such penalties are paid. Other means include use of the Neighbourhood and youths to collect such penalties. The house approved the proposal. However some people were of the opinion that the town union should visit the wards whose members are not coming. Ozor Innocent Okafor suggested regular meetings with the Igwe in council.

Other relevant sections of the constitution were touched, including the composition of the traditional council and the Igwe in council. It was realized that some wards no longer have representatives in the Igwe’s cabinet. It was ruled that any ward that do not have representative should as a matter of urgent elect a representative to be made chief in the Igwe’s cabinet. Those who have an appointed chief by Igwe is entitled to elect another representative.

Section 7.2&7.3 Registration and annual subvention
It was approved that all the wards and age grades being represented in the Town union shall register with the sum of 2,000 each. While the wards shall pay annual subvention of 3,000 each, age grades shall pay annual subvention of 2,000 each. The secretary is to communicate the age grades and wards on the development.

In concluding the implementation of the constitution, the house ruled that it is the duty of the town union and not the General assembly to implement/enforce the constitution.

Revitalization of the government schools.
Hon face Magbo said it is the duty of the town union to find out what is required to shape the schools and work out the modality. The town union should make cost of such needs available so that we can appeal for help from the youths and other organs of the town. Mr. Christopher Aniagolu was in support of the honourable. Hon Nicodemus Aniekwuilo suggested we should go the Local government education Authority to request for resident teachers instead of having teachers that come from a far place. Among the things suggested that could help to improve the pupils enrolment in the schools include buying the exercise books for the pupils , providing school uniform, providing band set and cash incentives to the teachers that are doing well. The education committee should be formed to look into those things.

Also there is need for other committees like the water committee electricity committee and security committee. These committees will be formed when the turn out of members improves as expected since we have included the age grades in the town union membership.
Motion for adjournment was moved by Mr. Mr. Cornelius Obiekwe seconded by Chif Francis Ozoagu. Closing prayer was said by Everist Ogwu at about 5.30pm