By Chidi Nkwopara

OWERRI—Imo State House of Assembly has passed a motion to set up a five-member ad-hoc committee on the lingering industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, in South East states.

Speaker of the House named Nze Ray Emeana as Chairman, while Chief Samuel Anyanwu, Bro. Stan Dara, Miss Ukachi Amaechi and Chief Simeon Iwunze will serve as members of the ad-hoc committee.

The House equally empowered the committee to urgently liaise with similar committees in other state assemblies and state ministries of education in the geo-political zone.

The lawmakers also directed the ad-hoc committee to get in touch with the South East caucus in the National Assemby and ASUU branches of the universities in the zone to find a lasting solution to the lingering ASUU strike in the zone.

Chief sponsor of the motion urged his colleagues to support the motion since the future of Nigerian children was being toyed with.

Those who supported the motion included Stan Dara for Orsu, Simeon Iwunze (Isiala Mbano), Bede Eke (Ngor Okpala), Samuel Anyanwu (Ikeduru) and Basil Duru (Onuimo) state constituencies.

Opposing the motion, the Majority Leader of the House, Dr. John Egbuchulam, queried the moral right of the federal government to fix workers’ salary for the state government.

Others who opposed the motion were Benjamin Emereonye (Ahiazu Mbaise), Josephat Emenaha (Njaba), Ikenna Eme (Isu), Henry Igbomezie (Oguta) and Ugochukwu Nzekwe (Nkwerre) state constituencies.

Vanguard recalls that the ad-hoc committee is expected to submit its report to the House on November 3, 2010.