The Speaker of Akwa
Ibom State House of Assembly, Mr Sam Ikon, has called on the National Assembly to expedite action on the passage of legislation to grant autonomy to state legislatures.
Ikon made the call in Uyo on Thursday at a valedictory session in honour of the late Speaker of the former Cross River House of Assembly Mr Ndaeyo Uta, .
He expressed concern at the economic status of former legislators in the country and stressed the need to improve their welfare.
According to him, granting financial autonomy to state legislatures will go a long way to improve their welfare.
“The pitiful economic status of our former colleagues is not palatable; it is only financial autonomy that can get legislators out of this problem,” he said.
The speaker consoled with the family of the deceased and urged them to reflect more on the positive legacies he left behind.
Chief Okokon Etuk, member of the assembly when the deceased was speaker, described him as “a courageous leader and pillar of democracy’’
