Public Hearing On Proposed Byelaws Organized By The 10th Legislative Assembly Of Obio-Akpor Local Government Council, Rumuodomaya, Rivers State, Nigeria
By Tony A. Chuku
- Mr. leader, Rt. Hon. Rex Millia Abuchi Amadi, permit me to rely on the well established protocol. I congratulate the 10th Legislative Assembly of Obio-Akpor Local Government Council, for this laudable programme on participatory engagement in the art of Legislation, the first of its kind in the annals of our dear LGA; a measure designed, in my opinion, to elicit the people’s commitment to robust legislation.
2. OBSERVATIONS
i. It’s sad to observe that Mr. Leader could not protect its own, when he failed to recognized, at the public hearing, their most senior colleagues, the likes of Eze Ken Iwezor and my humble self, both of whom were Hon. Councilors in the First Obio-Akpor Legislative Assembly (1991-1993), which in our estimation was most unsavory.
ii. The hearing notices did not receive adequate publicity, which apparently accounted for the low turnout. Besides, copies of the proposed byelaws were not sent to the respondents and invitees ahead of time neither were they widely published in the media, electronically or in print; a measure that would have exposed the participants to the intendment and the desirability or otherwise of the proposed byelaws, for effective contributions. This flaw no doubt, affected the presentation and quality of the desired inputs.
- OBIO-AKPOR TENEMENT RATE ADMINISTRATION BILL, 2026:
Tenement Rate is a fee, levy or tax imposed and collected by the Local Government Councils in Nigeria on a property, developed or not, which is identifiably occupied; and it’s a major source of revenue for development.
The rate at any given time, is based on the existing laws and regulations and the collection is by an authorized Agent(s) of the Local Government Councils. It is a standard practice all over the world that Tax policies and administration must be equitable and progressive.
In public administration, there appears to be a consensus among the practitioners, that there exists a huge gap between policy formulation and implementation. Its argued and reasonably, too, that it’s at the implementation stage that most policies fail apparently because preponderant implementers lack the requisite knowledge, creativity, expertise and courage to drive the policies.
This, has given rise to the use of “Task forces,” in the Nigeria’s model, for quick results, which said task forces, in most cases, are inexperience, and lacking in character and the methodology of 21st century scientific outlook. Some taskforce committee members are mere brute and swindlers.
Digitalization of revenue collection, which would have been the best option, in the circumstance, may also not fill in the gap, due to high rate of illiteracy and ignorance in our society.
- MY ADVICE AND CAUTION
i. Any rate to be provided for in this byelaw should be equitable and responsive. To the extend that it answers the profound questions as to how much to be levied, the basis of assessment, the anticipated payer and his economic situation, who collects the levy, the method of collection, anticipated cost of collection vis-a-vis the total realizable income and above all the image of our Local Government Council at the Global platform.
ii. If you intend to make provisions for the use of task forces in the Byelaws, I respectfully urge you to consider the use of public servants (council staff), who will be nominated by the Head of Personnel Management (HPM), to head the taskforce committees; a few of them may also be considered as members. The wisdom behind this, is that any council staff heading a committee, will be expected to deploy civility and professionalism in handling their assignments and thus help to curb the excesses and nuisance of task forces, as presently perceived.
In addition, every taskforce committee public servant member or Head is aware that, by their rules of engagement, their careers, jobs and integrity will be at stake, as they could be held accountable for any lapses or irregularities of a member, which may lead to a query, suspension or termination of appointments. It is common knowledge that the current task force committee members, see their assignments, as adhoc and more essentially, too, political patronage and dividend of democracy which has regrettably informed their approach and attitude towards their engagements.
iii. Allied to this, is the issue of multiple Taxation and charges from the state and non-state actors, oftentimes, imposed on business outfits in the Local Government Area. There is no gain saying, that investors and small and medium business owners are passing through untold hardship from the activities of these “Tax Masters” who have the backing of the State Government and its agencies. Take for instance, in the livestock industry and related investments, such as Abattoirs or slaughter houses, cattle rearing and dealers.
Every slaughter house operating in Obio-Akpor, like many other business outfits, is inundated, daily with several demand notices and requests, including visits by the numerous workers/staff of the Veterinary department of Ministry of Agriculture; departments of the Ministries of Health, Environment, Rivers State Sanitation Authority, Obio-Akpor LGA Task Forces, on tenement Rate, Renewal of Operational Permits, Obio-Akpor Sanitation Unit and Health Officers, the list is inexhaustible. These payments are taking their tolls on the investors marginal profits.
iv. This raises the fundamental moral questions of integrity, character and the heavy burden of responsibility, on our collective leadership of the Local Government Council, especially with regard to our professed commitment to “the article of faith” on the “ease of doing business in Obio-Akpor”. Permit me, Mr. Leader, to hold that this unwholesome practice by the Local Government Councils and other state actors, in Rivers State and Niger Delta (Region), among other factors, accounted for the flight of many business establishments, and sadly too, the relocation of most multi-National Companies’ head offices to Lagos and Abuja.
Mr. Leader sir, it’s apposite at this juncture to rhetorically ask, where is the boundary line between the various Rivers State Ministries, Agencies, departments and the Local Government Councils, with respect to revenue generation and collections, this is without prejudice to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria regarding the Legislative lists of exclusive, Concurrent and the Residual.
V. This problem is further compounded by the unwholesome meddlesomeness of all the communities, where these business outfits operate in Obio-Akpor, and this is done through extraneous actors, such as the Youth Associations, Community Development Committees (CDC), Traditional Rulers councils and so many other omnibus stake holders, that impose all sorts of levies and charges, ranging from security, family, community development, sanitation, electricity, markets and shops, supply of diesel to Tele-commination providers, Trucks that deliver building materials to building sites, loading and unloading of vessels, for communities that are amphibious, Point of sale (POS) etc.
How many of these business operators and investors, in your judgment and good conscience, can survive and/ or thrive under such hash economic environment? Mr. Leader, the situation is precarious and the next turn of event, is predictable, but the time to act is now. Winston Churchill had opined that history will be kind to him for he intends to write it.
- MY ADVICE AND CAUTION
i. The 10th Legislative Assembly of Obio-Akpor, should prevail on the Executive Chairman of the Council, Hon. Dr. Gift N. Worlu, to immediately convoke a confab of all the paramount Rulers (Nde Eze Nmgbu) and their second in command, Government Recognized or not, First Class Government Recognised Ezes, Venerables, the Clergy, academia, other critical stakeholders, including but not limited to all Youth Associations Presidents, Chairmen of all the Community Development Committees, and such other persons or personalities. To discuss this retrogressive phenomenon in which all the paramount Rulers are perceived to be complicit.
Their denial and plead of Alibi, not withstanding, common sense and Public opinion, insist that neither the youth bodies nor the Community Development Committees would embark on such expedition in their village without the consent and approval of their Royal Father (Nye Nweli) ostensibly believed to be a colossus. Who then is fooling who? Conscience, it’s said, is an open wound which only truth can heal. There is no gain saying that, making Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, a safe haven for investors is not only a task but a shared responsibility and commitment.
ii. The confab if convened, may also resolve to advice the Council Chairman on the need to constitute a committee, adhoc or standing, to monitor and advise him on ways of collaboration with experts to ameliorate the current pains of business operators and investors, while also considering the communities’ genuine efforts in revenue generation and self-reliance.
iii. The 10th Legislative Assembly may wish to urge the Council Chairman to liaise with the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (Algon) Rivers State branch or personally interface with the relevant state ministries, agencies, Departments of Agriculture, Health, Environment Sanitation Authority, Local Government Service Commission, Board of Internal Revenue etc. to identify areas of conflict, encroachment, interference in revenue collection. Currently there is a document from the Rivers State Ministry of Justice which offers clarification and legal advice on this subject. I am privileged to have a copy.
- ANTI-LAND GRABBING, LAWFUL OCCUPATION AND DEVELOPMENT REGULATION BILL, 2026
Land grabbing is a nightmare that has been with us for ages. It involves a deliberate but sustained design to dispossess someone of his land. At its early stage of development, some decades ago, it adopted the conventional methodology of conspiracy, connivance, intimidation, intrigue, harassment, bribery, by a family, community or influential persons, to dispossess a weaker party of its land or property. Oftentimes with the support or connivance of the community’s’ leadership.
It could be in the form of boundary disputes, encroachment or even the entire portion or parcel of another party’s land. Sometimes in an arbitration, the arbitrator(s) would award the disputed land to their favorite party even when the evidence, on the contrary is overwhelming; and later collects gratification or even share the land with the “victorious” party.
Most often than not, some irresponsible Ezes, Paramount Rulers would shamelessly instigate these criminals, and this is very common now, to maliciously lay strong claim to a property which does not belong to them or one which their family, uncle or father, now late had genuinely sold and when the matter is brought to their palace for settlements, they will maneuver the settlement and brazenly award the land to the criminal or in subterfuge compel the rightful owner, now defendant, to pay a huge sum of money to the claimant, “criminal”, or forfeit the property.
This unwholesome practice which our society is helplessly battling to contend with, has reduced us to the state of nature, where might is right and weakness is slavery, such that the upcoming generations may be deluded to think that the values of merit, diligence, hard work and honesty are deception and unrewarding.
Today, land grabbing has metamorphed into a monster in our contemporary societies through a well-crafted complex network adopting non-conventional methods including unleashing terrors, mayhem and oftentimes assassination of their victims, and suspected or real contenders or adverse confrontations with impunity, relying on the protection and assurances of collaboration from some irresponsible state actors, institutions, Traditional Rulers, especially the Paramount Rulers, Youth Leaders and influential stakeholders in their communities.
Sadly these miscreants in our communities or neighbouring communities, who fluent their ill-gotten wealth (products of land grabbing are recognized and rewarded with chieftaincy tittles and positions of authority or responsibility, given front seats in public gatherings, including in some religious Centre’s by our communities leadership, for what they consider to be their “selfless contributions to the growth and development of their communities” and the quantum of Greek gifts and goodwill, to their people and of course you know that when money speaks, no one checks the grammar, which is a manifestation of a psychosis virus in a system.
MY ADVICE AND CAUTION
i. To address this monster audaciously de-marketing our dear Local Government Area, and marks us out, as a callous and nonresponsive Local Government council, among the comity of Local Governments in Nigeria; And to remedy our battered image, its recommended that the Obio-Akpor Local Government Council, establishes, as a matter of urgency, a functional office and appoints an officer of grade level 13 or above, as a director.
Who will be charged with the responsibility of receiving reports, complaints, verbal or written, on land grabbing and related matters; collate same and present to a standing or adhoc committee of five or seven members to be established and inaugurated by the Executive Chairman of Obio-Akpor Local Government Council, which said committee shall be made up of credible venerable citizens of Nigeria from all walks of life including but not limited to Traditional Rulers, a serving or retired Police Officer not below the rank Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), a Legal Practitioner, a Religious Leader, the Chairman and President of the Joint Communities Development Committees and Youth Association of all the Communities that make up Obio-Akpor Local Government Area. (central Youth and CDC bodies).
The Director or his appointee will serve as the Secretary of the Committee. the committee may be charged with further responsibilities, as the council chairman may consider necessary, in the realization of the objectives of the committee.
ii. It’s further recommended that the Council Chairman establishes a central joint committee of the presidents and chairmen of the Youth Associations and community development committees in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area. This body will meet regularly with council chairman, relevant stakeholders and committees, agencies to discuss and advice the chairman on matters relating to security, Youth and Community development, Education, skills acquisition and the general wellbeing of our people.
- Finally, Mr. Leader, it is noteworthy that the issues and concerns raised thereof are factored in, as you deliberate on the Byelaws. I wish you blissful and fruitful deliberations.
WORDS ON MARBLE
“The inability of man to learn from history is not the fault of history but man” Comiskey Ekiye.“
Flattery is the perfume of Monsters. Truth may hurt but flattery will bury you”.
I so submit, and most respectfully, too, Mr. Leader.
This was sent from Port Harcourt by The Traditional Prime Minister of Woji Community, Chief Dr. Tony A Chuku, who represented Obio Ward 1, which comprised, Woji, Rumurolu, Rumuibkwe, Rumuogba, Oginigba, Elimgbu, Rumuewhera, Rumunduru, Eliozu and Rumuaholu. Was the minority leader in the 1st legislative Assembly (1991-1993) of Obio-Akpor local Government council, Rivers State, Nigeria.
