Under order 14 rule 107 subsection 1 of the Enugu State House of Assembly standing orders, the bill for a law to amend the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission Law Cap 59 Revised Laws of Enugu State 2004 HB. 3, 2024, on Tuesday was considered, read for the 3rd time and passed by the Speaker Rt. Hon. Uche Ugwu.
Introducing the executive bill to the House, Minority Leader Iloabuchi Aniagu, member representing Nkanu West Constituency explained that the bill seeks to amend three sections of the principal law; sections 5 on the age of Chairman of ENSIEC; section 7 empowers ENSIEC to charge political parties fees and section 10 on qualification of the Commission’s member for elective position.
Considering the proposed amendment, Iloabuchi Aniagu proposed that in section 5, the Chairman of ENSIEC must have attained 30 years of age and not more than 70 years of age as against 35 years and 75 years respectively as obtained in the principal law.
The House also adopted that subsection 2 be inserted in Section 7 of the principal law; to carry out its function, the Commission shall have the power to generate funds by charging political parties a fee.
By this, the commission can generate funds and not depend solely on the state government to fund all its activities.
Although this generated arguments from members who felt the Commission may abuse this power, the majority carried the vote and the amendment was upheld.
The amended part in Section 10 states that any person who holds office as a Commission member is not qualified for any elective position in any Local Government Council unless such member resigns from office 3 months before the scheduled date for election.
Meanwhile in a later development, the bill for a law to establish the State University of Medical and Applied sciences teaching hospital Igbo-Eno and for other connected purposes HB 4, 2024 motion moved by Iloabuchi Aniagu and seconded by Princess Obiajulu Ugwu was read for the second time and referred to the House Committee on Education, Science and Technology; Health and Judiciary Public Petitions and Ethics for in-depth study.
The committee is expected to present her report to the House on or before 20th February 2024.
