By Newslineglobal
Enugu State Government has constituted a standing committee on property, land reconciliation and compensation, tagged, “Inter-Ministerial Committee for Property/Land Reconciliation and Compensation,”with a charge to review all title documents, construction approvals, double and wrongful allocations and double certificates of occupancy.
The committee was also charged to evaluate compensations in respect of Government’s acquired lands, among others.
Pix- (L-R) Okonkwo,Udeh, Onyia, Otiji and Nwatu
Inaugurating the committee recently in Enugu, the State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, charged members to be resolute, fair, transparent and bring to bear their experiences and integrity which were the conditions precedent for their selection.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government Prof Chidiebere Onyia, , who will also serve as Chairman of the committee, Governor Mbah’ said the terms of reference of the committee as spelt out should be implemented to the letter, adding that the procedures adopted must pass the tests of integrity, accountability, traceability, transparency, and fairness to all parties regardless of status.
The committee known as Inter-Ministerial Committee for Property/Land Reconciliation and Compensation in Enugu State is saddled with the responsibilities of verifying all title documents relating to lands and property in any designated area assigned for construction; verifying all construction approvals and stages of construction; reconciling all issues of double allocations, wrongful allocation, double certificates of occupancy; evaluation and payment of compensations in respect of any acquisition; resolving issues of acquisition and recommending amount of compensation to be paid, and verifying allocations and payment made as a result of the allocations.
The Governor said the committee’s assignment commences immediately with the Office of the Secretary to the State Government as the Secretariat for all correspondence, complaints and enquiries.
Part of the functions of the committee is to also verify construction within the Enugu International Conference Centre (ICC) and other Government’s facilities.
Speaking on behalf of other members of the committee, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, who is also a member of the Committee thanked the Governor for appointing them. He said the committee would not disappoint the public in the discharge of its duties as it would ensure social equity and justice. He assured that all issues would be treated with utmost sense of responsibility.
“We accept it with every sense of responsibility, and we understand how sensitive it is. We understand that if this committee does its work well, that the members of the state that have been affected will heave a sigh of relief because all their interests, whatever be their concerns, whatever be their fears when channelled through this committee will be fully addressed; from the point of social equity; addressed from the point of the rule of law; addressed from the magnanimity of a father to do good to his household.
“The Governor is the father of the state, Enugu State is the household. Every person in this state has been considered in envisioning the development that His Excellency is pursuing through different agencies of this Government.
“It is on that note that we invite the members of the public that may feel agrieved or affected by this to please come forward with genuine cases, genuine concerns, genuine claims, and through this committee the administration of Dr. Peter Mbah will address them because it is for the general good”, Udeh said
Other members of the committee include the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Gerald Otiji, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Project Development and Implementation, Arc. Uchenna Nwatu, the State Acting Surveyor General, Justus Chime, a representative of Estate/Valuation Department, Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Legal and Inter-Ministerial Matters, Barr. Okonkwo Juliet. Secretary of the Committee,