Ikom, Boki Constituents Tackle Lawmaker Over Unfulfilled Pledges

Constituents of Ikom/Boki Federal Constituency have called for accountability over federal employment promises made over three years ago, which they say remain largely unfulfilled.

The constituents, under the aegis of Concerned Youths and Community Stakeholders from the two local government areas of Boki and Ikom, said the pledges to facilitate federal jobs for qualified indigenes of the area are yet to materialise, despite repeated assurances.

One of the group leaders, Mr Charles Bissong, said the promise was made ahead of the 2023 general elections as part of efforts to tackle youth unemployment and restrictiveness in the constituency.

Three years later, they lamented that many graduates and skilled youths in Ikom and Boki were still jobless and roaming the streets.

“We were told our sons and daughters would be considered for federal opportunities. We compiled names, submitted CVs, but till today nothing has come out of it,” a youth leader from Boki said.

Another stakeholder from Ikom council, Mr Silverster Ndifon,  added that the people were not demanding patronage, but transparency on what has been done so far.

The group therefore called on their representative to give a clear account of the employment slots attracted to the constituency since assuming office, the beneficiaries, and concrete steps being taken to fulfill the outstanding pledges.

They stressed that their demand is not political but borne out of the need for effective representation, inclusion and economic survival in the face of rising unemployment.

Reacting to the issue in a telephone conversation, the member Ikom/Boki federal constituency, Hon. Victor Abang, dismissed the allegations describing the allegations as attack by the opposition who doesn’t have what to offer to the constituents. “Tell the people what you have for them rather than criticising me who had done so much for our people,” he said.