Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly took a giant stride by electing the first female deputy speaker.
Mrs. Felicia Bassey representing Okobo state constituency and Chair Person, House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Welfare Matters has made history as the first woman to operate in this capacity
In a statement released on Wednesday, December 30, 2015 in Uyo, the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Mr. Kufre Okon, said Bassey emerged the first female Deputy Speaker during Tuesday's plenary, to replace the former Deputy Speaker, Mr. Effiong Bassey, representing Oron/Udung Uko state constituency, whose election was nullified last week by the Appeal Court in Abuja.
The Speaker, Mr. Onofiok Luke, who administered the oath of office on the new Deputy Speaker, encouraged her to live up to the expectation of the sixth Assembly while discharging her legislative duties.
The statement added that other members said that the position was well deserved, and expressed confidence in her ability to discharge the functions of the office to its fullest potential.