Akwa Ibom Lawmakers seek review of waste management legislation

Ifiok Itiaba - Uyo

Hon Bassey Pius Bassey laying his report before the House

Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has passed a resolution urging the Akwa Ibom State Waste Management Agency to provide Personal Protective kits to waste management workers in the state.

The resolution which was part of the recommendation submitted by the House Committee on Environment also seek the review of the current legislation on waste management in the state.

Presenting his report, on the house of Assembly motions: urgent need to address unregulated refuse dump scavenging in Uyo metropolis and urgent need to equip environmental workers with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) on Thursday, the Chairman of the Committee on Environment, Hon Bassey Pius Bassey, said the committee observed that the activities of scavengers has caused adverse Environmental issues such as blocking of drainages resulting in flooding incidences.

 "The activities of scavengers has caused adverse Environmental issues such as blocking of drainages resulting in flooding incidences scattering of waste, exposure of individuals to hazardous substances and threat to public health in Akwa Ibom state and that the absence of enabling laws to regulate scavenging promotes criminality in the state".

"Environmental workers especially those involved in wastes collection and disposal are openly exposed to health hazards on account of non-usage of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) in the course of their duties".

He therefore urged the House to resolve that workers of the agency should be provided with regular free medical checks and treatment for effective performance.

"Environmental workers should be provided with regular free medical checks and treatment to ensure efficiency and effectiveness".

"that all Waste Management workers should be provided with Personal Protective Kits as a matter of urgency and that the Waste Management Agency should engage all stakeholders regularly to appraise performance and effective delivery towards a sound waste management in the State;

that the present legislation on Waste Management should be urgently reviewed to meet with contemporary realities of modern waste management system".

In his ruling, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong directed the Clerk, Mrs Nsikakabasi Orok to communicate the resolution to relevant authorities for action.