The lawmakers, passed a resolution on Thursday to that effect, after considering a motion presented by the member representing Oruk-Anam State Constituency, Udo Kieran.
The Assembly, therefore, directed the commissioner for women affairs to work with the Uyo Capital City Development Authority to ensure that the resolution was thoroughly implemented.
The Assembly said that some of the beggars who are underage children would be rehabilitated in children’s home or other rehabilitation facilities in the state.
The majority leader of the House, Udo Kieran told the Assembly that the increasing rate of beggars and their daily activities in Uyo was becoming embarrassing, and should be checked, especially with the current security situation in the country.
He pointed out also that the sight of beggars almost everywhere within the city of Uyo was capable of affecting the people of the State psychologically.
“On daily basis, most especially in the afternoons and evenings, women and children stand at strategic junctions cuddling babies and toddlers begging for alms,” Kieran had said, while arguing his motion.
“These beggars, who are mostly non-indigenes of Akwa Ibom State, stand at Two-Lane junction by Ibom Hall, the Ibom Plaza, among other places.”
A member representing Ibesikpo Asutan, Aniekan Uko while proposing the motion, noted that the beggars couldn’t have been Akwa Ibom indigenes because, according to him, begging was alien to the people’s culture and tradition.
Another member representing Ibiono Ibom, Ime Okon argued that an average Akwa Ibom person would do everything to protect his dignity, and would not find it dignifying to engage in streets begging.
The Speaker, Onofiok Luke, while commending members for being sensitive to issues affecting the people of the state, called on security operatives to live up to their responsibilities by finding out where beggars sleep and their mission in the state.
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