By Frank Ulom
Rt. Hon. Eteng Jonah Williams was the Speaker of the 9th Cross River State House of Assembly (CRSHA) and the Member Representing Yakurr II State Constituency from May 29, 2019, to May 29, 2023. He is a seasoned and experienced legislator who has held the following legislative offices; Deputy Leader of the House, Adviser to the immediate past Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. John Gaul Lebo, Chairman House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Vice Chairman House Committee on Business and Rules, Member House Committee on Public Account, member House Committee on Health Service, Women Affairs, Social Welfare and Gender Development All in the 7th and 8th Assembly.
Williams won the 2023 Cross River Central Senatorial District election under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Eteng holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Calabar, with over 25 years of working experience in Administration before delving into politics. He was the Head of Administration of Jones-Tech International Limited prior to his election to represent Yakurr II State Constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly. Eteng supervised the daily activities of Jones-Tech International Limited Projects in Nigeria, as Head of Administration.
Rt. Hon. Eteng Jonah Williams also worked with the office of the Organisation for African Unity, OAU Chairman (documentation Unit), at the Presidency where he was in charge of the compilation and writing of the research project entitled “OAU Abuja 91 Commemorative Handbook”.
This handbook which contains the activities and speeches of various Heads of State and Presidents Members countries during the OAU Summit, in Abuja in 1991 saw the programme as a success, largely due to the energy and drive injected into it by Eteng and his editorial team.
Rt. Hon. Eteng Jonah Williams has attended many seminars/conferences in Nigeria and the United States of America. He is a member of the Nigeria America Chamber of Commerce and Industry and was on the Board of Jones-Tech International Limited and Enonye Ventures Limited. Eteng has been a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP since 1999. A grassroots mobilizer and team player whose cardinal political philosophy is: Total efficiency, responsive representation and Human Capital Development. Eteng as a legislator in the 7th and 8th Assembly in Cross River State, has shown some laudable and erudite skills in Legislative activities.
Rt. Hon. Eteng Jonah Williams is married to Imaobong and the marriage is blessed with three (3) children.
Eteng Jonah Williams had sponsored and co-sponsored motions/bills. Among these are;
1. A law to ensure the commencement and completion of projects proposed in the capital estimates of any given financial year in Cross River State, and for matters connected therewith.
2. Cross River State Infrastructure Fund Bill, 2015
3. Great Calabar City Development Authority Bill, 2015
4. Cross River State Tax Exemption (Low Income Earners) Bill, 2015 5. Cross River Revenue Administration (Amendment) Bill, 2015
6. Cross River State Portside Development Agency Bill, 2016
7. Cross River State Homeland Safety and Security Agency Bill, 2016
8. A bill for a law to ensure Fiscal Discipline in the Generation and Utilization of State Revenue, Secure Long-Term Macro-Economic Stability of the State Economy and establishment of the Economic and Finance Intelligence Commission to promote and enforce the State’s economic objective; and related matters.
9. Cross River State Gubernatorial Pension (Amended) Bill 2018
CO-SPONSORED BILLS by Eteng Jonah Williams
1. A bill to make provision for the establishment of the Cross River State neighboring security watch and for matters connected.
2. A bill for a law to establish the Cross State counterpart fund account and other connected matters.
3. A bill for a law to establish the Cross River State schools of Nursing, Midwifery and post-basic midwifery and for matters connected therewith.
4. A bill for a law to establish the Cross River State multi-door courthouse and for others connected therewith.
5. Cross River State Local Government Harmonized Levies, Fees and Charger Bill, 2014
6. Cross River State Local Government Harmonized Levies, Fees and Charger Bill, 2015
7. A law to amend the Cross River University of Technology Law, 2008.
8. Cross River State Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Board to regulate the activities of Private Schools.
9. A law to amend the Cross River State Road Infrastructure maintenance levy and related matters.
10. A law to prohibit the act of kidnapping in Cross River and the committing of any act as an explicit or implicit condition for the release of a kidnapped.
11. A law to make provision for the Cross River State Sustainable Development Goals Agency.
12. A law to make provision for the Cross River State Domestication of Corporate Social Responsibility.
13. A law to make provision for the establishment of the Cross River State infrastructural fund.
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14. A law to establish the Cross River State Environment and Carbon Emission Board.
15. A law establishing the consumer protection agency, provides for the protection of the interest of consumers and the settlement of consumer disputes.
16. A law to provide for the establishment of a commercial Agricultural Agency
17. A law to make provision for the establishment of the Cross River State House of Assembly Service Commission
18. A law to establish the Cross River State Safety Commission
19. A law to provide protection against domestic violence and for connected purposes.
20. A law to provide for the establishment of a child protection commission in Cross River State.
21. A law to amend the Cross River State Corporate Social.
22. A law to provide for the Cross River State preservation of Public Peace and for other matters connected therewith.
23. A law to prohibit legal relationships between persons of the same sex in Cross River State and for other matters connected therewith
24. A law to amend the Cross River State Urban Development Authority Law (as 2000 amended) and for other matters connected therewith.
25. A law to amend the Cross River State Corporate Social Responsibility Agency Law No.11 of 2015 and for other matters connected therewith.
Rt Hon. Eteng Jonah Williams, Member representing Yakurr II State constituency and Speaker, Cross River State House of Assembly
MOTIONS BY RT. HON. ETENG JONES WILLIAMS
1. Motion calling on the Federal Government to urgently appeal to the International Court of Justice (I.C.J) judgement on the ceding of Bakassi Peninsular to the Republic of Cameroon.
2. Motion calling on the State Government to urgently intervene in the lnyima and Onyeadama crisis which led to the destruction of lives, and properties and rendered the people of Inyima homeless.
3. Motion calling on the State Government to urgently intervene in the crisis between lnyima and Onyeadama cum Nko and Mkpani communities.
CO-SPONSORED MOTION by Eteng Jonah Williams
1. Motion calling on the State Government to urgently institute an Internal Staff Personnel Audit in the State Public Service
2. Motion calling on the State and Local Government to institutionalize, adopt, implement and apply project management framework and strategy in the initiation, planning, management, monitoring and evaluation of all government protects in Cross River State
3. Motion requesting for a sustainable implementation strategy to ensure a high-level performance of the Federal budget extract of Cross River State in the 2012 Federal Budget.
4. A motion calling on the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international donor agencies to support the State Government objectives to attain the MDGs in the Health sector by 2015
5. Motion calling on the State Government to embark on an aggressive establishment of cottage industries across the State.
6. Motion calling on Cross River State Government MDAs and the Local Government Area to come up with the post-2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) alternative plan to sustain the development agenda of the State beyond the MDG’s target.
7. Motion advocating for the development of a State Wide Technical Reference Framework (TRF) template for MDAs in Cross River State.
8. Motion calling on the Statewide engagement strategy for NGOs and CSOs in the Public Sector in Cross River State.
9. Motion calling on the Cross River State Government to urgently rehabilitate/renovate the Special Education Centre Secondary School, Ikom Layout, Calabar.
10. Motion calling on mining companies’ operation in the State to comply with provisions of the Mining act relating to Environment Impact Assessment and EIA Community Development Agreement (CDA)
11. A Motion calling on the relevant agencies of Government to protect online services in the state for cybercrime.
12. A motion calling on the Cross River State Government to list the Akachak Cultural Festival on the State Annual Event Calendar.
13. Motion calling on the Cross River State Government to urgently intervene in the construction and rehabilitation of the Yache/Wonokom/Wanikade/Benue border road, and the Alifokpa/Yache Bridge, Yala Local Government Area, Cross River State.
14. Motion calling on the Cross River State Forestry Commission and its agents to allow private organizations to import partly processed wood from neighboring States and countries into Cross River State.
COMMITTEE REPORT by Eteng Jonah Williams
1. Report of joint Committee on Security, Conflicts and Disaster Management/NDDC and Environmental Matters/Agricultural and Natural Resources on the windstorm and wanton destruction of properties experienced in some parts of Cross River State between 30th April, 2012-2nd May 2012.
2. Report of the Joint Committee on Security, Conflicts and Disaster Management/State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) on the flood disaster at Nassarawa, 8 Miles, Calabar.
3. Report of the Special Committee on Oversight functions in the Northern Senatorial District of Cross River State.
4. Contact Report of Joint Committee of Security, Conflict and Disaster Management State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) on familiarisation visit to SEMA.
5. Atim Ekpenyong Report of the Joint Committee on Security, Conflict and Disaster Management, Environment and Agriculture on the windstorm and wanton destruction of properly experienced in some parts of the State between 30th April 2012 and 2nd May 2012.
6. Report of the Joint, Committee on Finance and Appropriation/Due Process, Donor Support and Intergovernmental Affairs on the Cross River State counterpart fund bill, 2014
7. Report of the Finance and Appropriation Committee on the request for house approval to enable the State Government to secure and obtain a N1.5 billion term loan facility from Fidelity Bank PLC for RUDA Capital Project.
8. Report of the Joint Committee on Environmental NDDC works, Lands/Housing and Security, Conflicts and Disaster Management on the Flood Disaster Management on the flood disaster in Ijiman-Ugep, Yakurr Local Government Area.
9. Report of the Finance and Appropriation Committee on the Cross River State Infrastructure fund bill.
10. Report of the Finance and Appropriation Committee on the Cross River State Environment and carbon emission bill, 2016
11. Report of the Finance and Appropriation Committee on the Cross River State tax exemption (Low income earners) bills, 2015
12. Report of the Finance and Appropriation Committee on a bill for on how to make provision for the establishment of the Cross River State Infrastructure Fund and for matters connected therewith
13. Report of the Finance and Appropriation Committee on the Cross River Revenue Administration (Amendment) bill, 2015
14. Report of the Finance and Appropriate Committee on the Cross River State Administration (Amendment)bill,2015 15. Report of the Finance and Appropriate Committee on the Cross River State Appropriation (Amendment) Bill 2015
16. Report of the Committee on Finance and Appropriation on a request for a house resolution in support of bailout loans to the State.
17. Report of the Committee on Finance and Appropriation on a request for approval of Regulations to the Cross River State Wharf Landing Fees Law 2015
18. Report of the committee on Finance and Appropriation on the Cross River State Gubernatorial pensions (Amendment) Bill-2018
19. Report of the committee on Finance and Appropriation on the screening of Nominee (Akpanke Ogan) for appointment as Chairman IRS
20. Report of the committee on Finance and Appropriation on the Cross River State Appropriation Bill-2019-Wed 29th March 2019
21. Report of the Committee on Finance and Appropriation on a request for House of Assembly approval to withdraw N2 billion from the state NESEROR funding.