Abia Assembly threatens to terminate contract with IVM over alleged breach

Abia House of Assembly has threatened to terminate its contract with the Innoson Vehicles Manufacturing Ltd for allegedly reneging on agreement to produce vehicles for all the lawmakers.

The Speaker, Mr Emmanuel Emeruwa, made this known on Thursday in Umuahia, during an interaction with the media,  as part of activities to mark the one year anniversary of the 8th Assembly.

He regretted that members were yet to have their vehicles one year after their inauguration.

He said that the preference for IVM vehicles was informed by Gov. Alex Otti’s quest to promote local contents.

Emeruwa said that Innoson had received all the money required to produce vehicles for Assembly members, but  had reneged more that 10 times to produce them.

“So far, Innoson has not been able to produce or perform its own side of agreement.

“At this point, we are at the verge of terminating that contract and ask for our money back if he doesn’t perform within the next 15 days.

“This house is very serious about it and they cannot continue pacifying us after one year,” he said.

Giving a scorecard of the 8th Assembly in one year, the Speaker said that it had passed five out of 15 bills into law.

He said that the house had also made 40 resolutions and had received 46 petitions and 55 motions.

According to him, this Assembly is very active and before this time next year, more would have been achieved.

He said that the 8th Assembly had been very peaceful and had been enjoying a good relationship with the Executive.

The present Assembly which consists of 24 members, was inaugurated on June 15, 2023.