|
Onofiok Akpan Luke is a lawyer and legislator in Akwa Ibom, one of Nigeria's oil-rich states. He was born on March 16, 1978. Onofiok graduated in 2005 from the University of Uyo, Nigeria with an LL.B. In 2009, he underwent further studies at the Nigerian Law School where he obtained the qualification to become a Barrister at Law in Nigeria in 2010. The 37-year-old lawmaker had a humble upbringing by Christian parents who both worked in Nigeria's Civil Service. Many give his mother, Deaconess Lawrencia Luke, the credit for Onofiok's moral high ground. After a 3-year engagement with Governor Godswill Akpabio as Personal Assistant, Onofiok was nominated to the (Nigerian Youth Parliament ) where he was later elected as the pioneer Speaker of the 109-member Parliament, a non-stipendiary institution put together by then President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua to help generate inputs from elite Nigerian youths into the country's mainstream governance. In 2011, Onofiok won sufficient votes at the primaries of the People's Democratic Party (Nigeria) to run in that year's general election for a seat to represent Nsit Ubium state constituency in the Akwa Ibom state House of Assembly. Onofiok is still seen as a rights activist although in recent years, he has played less activist roles as he becomes more deeply involved in leadership at both national and state levels. His activism gained national prominence when he served as President of the Student Union Government of the University of Uyo. Onofiok led a mass student protest against the university management which had increased school fees and other sundry charges for students of the institution without justification. Onofiok, like many other students he led at the time, believed that being a government-funded institution, the arbitrary increase in fees by the University of Uyo was callous and uncalled for. Other displeased students from across Nigeria who were in solidarity with Onofiok and the University of Uyo students joined the protest. Following the peaceful protest he led, one still seen as a rare bravery, the university management rusticated Onofiok Luke for two years.〔http://tribune.com.ng/news2013/index.php/en/editorial/item/14725-why-uniyo-boiled-on-june-12.html〕 But after having been found clean of every allegation by the school, Onofiok was recalled later to complete his studies for a degree in Law. Onofiok's boldness, erudition, and principles have earned him the respect of many of Nigeria's youths. He is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School Executive Education programme and an Honorary Texan. Luke, in 2011, became an associate member of the (Nigeria Leadership Initiative (NLI) ), an international non-profit platform for credible, accomplished and uniquely patriotic Nigerians. He is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). ==Legislative Career (2011 to Date)== Onofiok was first elected to the Akwa Ibom state legislature in April 2011. He was overwhelmingly reelected for a second term on April 11, 2015. As a lawmaker, Luke has sponsored six private member bills in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, two of which have been passed into law: The Law to provide for the establishment of the Akwa Ibom State HIV/AIDS control agency, functions of the agency, and for connected matters;〔http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/fostering-good-leadership/166944/〕〔http://www.thetidenewsonline.com/2012/06/04/a%E2%80%99ibom-passes-hivaids-agency-bill/〕 and The Law to amend the Magistrate Court Laws 2000 and for matters connected therewith. Onofiok's human right activism is evident in some of the bills and motions he moves on the floor of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly. Currently undergoing legislative processes on the floor of the state legislature is a bill sponsored by Onofiok in which he seeks a law to protect the Physically challenged persons in his state from all forms of discrimination and to provide for equal opportunities for every person. He is also pushing the state executive to establish a state Department for Disability Affairs in order to safeguard the rights and privileges of people living with disability. The bills for laws to provide for the safety of employees in construction companies and industries in Akwa Ibom State, and to protect the physically challenged against discrimination in Akwa Ibom State are at various legislative stages. In 2013, Onofiok began moves to get his state government to become better committed to environmental protection. He submitted to the Assembly a bill to create an Environmental protection law for the regulation of Sand mining activities and dredging operations in the state of Akwa Ibom. Barr Luke has also from time to time moved motions on the floor of the House, motions which are critical to the smooth running of Akwa Ibom state. Some of these motions are the motion for a resolution to mandate the Executive arm of government to publish the state's official gazette, prevent the spread of Lassa fever in Akwa Ibom State, prevent indiscriminate excavations and sand mining, and the prevention of cattle grazing in farmlands and movement of cattle on thoroughfares. While serving on the legislative committee on appropriation and finance, Luke was instrumental to the introduction of Participatory budgeting where public hearings were held on state appropriation bills from the executive to ensure due process. His committee would not endorse a bill for the fiscal year until Civil Societies, representatives of women and youth groups, religious associations, and members of the media made inputs which will form parts of the law approving appropriations made. Luke in 2013 was reported to have saved his state well over $6 million when he stood down a request for 1billion Nigerian Naira by the state executive which claimed the money was going to be used to establish the Ibom Airlines.〔http://globalvillenews.com/2014/01/28/fraud-missing-1billion-ibom-airline-tears-akha-budget-office-and-min-of-special-duties-apart/〕 Local media reported that by stopping the inclusion of the money in the state's 2014 appropriation law, Luke had stopped what would have been a major racketeering by state officials. Reports say Luke stopped the approval of the requested 1billion Naira because the state Budget Department could not prove that the money had not been collected under the same subhead by the state's Special Duties ministry in the previous fiscal year and was accounted for. He was changed from the Finance and Appropriation Committee by the House leadership to the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee a few months later. He has been collaborating with local agriculturalists in the state to work out laws which will improve food production in the state. Although described as a "stubborn lawmaker" by local media in 2014 for engaging in a career threatening row with state officials on certain obnoxious policies in the state, Luke firmly told Nigeria's (Daily Independent Newspaper ) in March 2014 that ("Lawmakers don't have to be confrontational" ) in their line of duty. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Onofiok Luke」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|