The Seventh Assembly of the Calabar Municipal Council has passed a Bill for a Bye-Law for the establishment of the Calabar Municipal Empowerment and Social Welfare Programme and the Calabar Municipal Empowerment Social Welfare Programme Committee.
The passage of the Bill followed the third reading on the floor of the legislative chamber.
The Bill, which is the first to passed by the seventh Assembly, is sponsored by the Deputy Leader and Councillor for Ward Four, Honourable Patricia Imona, and co-sponsored by Majority Leader and Councillor for Ward Ten, Honourable Effiom Effanga and Councillor for Ward One, Honourable Edim Ekong.
The Leader of the Calabar Municipal Legislative Council, Honourable Emmanuel Inok Otu, explained that the Bill is to cater for the needs of vulnerable people, those that are physically challenged as well as low income earners in Calabar Municipality.
Honourable Otu, who is Councillor for Ward Eight, said beneficiaries will cut across the the ten Council wards and the programme will go a long way in complementing the People First Mantra of the Governor, Senator Bassey Otu and give the people a sense of belonging.
The Clerk of the Calabar Municipal Legislative Council, Mrs Evelyn Ekeng, said the passage of the Bill was a result of a process during which the Bill went through the first and second readings, as well as Committee stage where Councillors considered the various clauses of the Bill.
Mrs Ekeng said a clean copy of the Bill will now be forwarded to the Chairman of Calabar Municipal Council, Apostle James Anam, for assent.
