ABA NORTH COUNCIL CHAIRMAN, HON. TIMOTHY KALU IHEKE SIGNS TWO LIFE-CHANGING BYE-LAWS TO ESTABLISH MOTHERLESS BABIES HOME AND DRUG REHABILITATION CENTRE

In a bold step toward strengthening social welfare and community health in Abia State, the Executive Chairman of Aba North Local Government Area, Hon. Timothy Kalu Iheke, has signed into law two landmark legislations: the “Aba North Local Government Council Motherless Babies Home Establishment Bye-Law 2025” and the “Aba North Local Government Council Drug Rehabilitation and Recovery Centre Bye-Law 2025.”

These twin legislations mark a major milestone in the local government’s commitment to providing structured social support systems that protect vulnerable children and rehabilitate individuals battling substance abuse, a development that further aligns with the people-focused governance vision of Governor Alex Chioma Otti, OFR.

The Motherless Babies Home Establishment Bye-Law 2025, sponsored by Hon. Barr. Ogojiaku Rufus, Councilor representing Ogbor II, Ward 11, seeks to institutionalize care for abandoned and motherless children within Aba North.

The Home, to be established at a designated location in the council area, will provide shelter, healthcare, and emotional support for children without parental care.

According to the provisions of the bye-law, a Management Board will oversee the running of the Home. The board will include representatives from the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, medical and legal professionals, child welfare NGOs, and the local health department.

Funding for the Home will come from annual council allocations, donations, and grants from national and international agencies.

The bye-law also mandates the Council to collaborate with welfare agencies for immunization and child development monitoring, while promoting public sensitization campaigns on child abandonment, legal adoption, and support for orphans.

The second major legislation signed, the Drug Rehabilitation and Recovery Centre Bye-Law 2025, sponsored by Hon. Bishop Ejiogu Anthony, Councilor representing Eziama, Ward 1, focuses on tackling the growing menace of drug abuse and addiction within Aba North and its environs.

The law establishes the Aba North Drug Rehabilitation and Recovery Centre (ANDRRC), which will serve as a treatment, recovery, and reintegration hub for drug-dependent individuals. The centre will provide medical detoxification, psychological counseling, vocational training, and community reintegration programs designed to restore dignity and productivity to affected individuals.

A Governing Committee, chaired by an appointee of the Executive Chairman, will administer the centre. Members will include representatives of the NDLEA, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), local health authorities, and community leaders.

The bye-law also prescribes penalties for anyone obstructing rescue operations or engaging in criminal activities within the centre’s premises with offenders liable to fines or imprisonment. Funding will be drawn from local government allocations, donations, and government health initiatives.

During the signing ceremony, the Leader of Aba North Legislative Council, Rt. Hon. Nnamdi Sunday, expressed deep appreciation to Hon. Timothy Kalu Iheke and members of the council for their collaborative spirit. He reaffirmed the lawmakers’ collective commitment to ensuring the success of these initiatives and pledged continuous support to both the council leadership and the state government under Governor Alex Otti.

In his remarks, Hon. Timothy Kalu Iheke commended the legislators for their unity and diligence, describing the passage of the bills as a major victory for the people of Aba North. He assured that the laws would be implemented without delay, emphasizing that within one year, both facilities would become operational and functional.

He reiterated that Aba North has long desired such institutions that reflect compassion, social responsibility, and proactive governance and his administration is determined to deliver them.

The signing ceremony, held at the Aba North Local Government Headquarters, had in attendance the Secretary to the Local Government, Hon. Frank Alaribe, the Clerk of the Legislative Council, and the entire Councillors of Aba North Local Government Area, who witnessed and endorsed this historic moment. Their presence underscored the unity, teamwork, and shared commitment within the Aba North administration toward advancing social and developmental reforms at the grassroots level.

The enactment of these two bye-laws symbolizes a new era in local governance, social development, and human-centered leadership in Aba North. 

With the establishment of the Motherless Babies Home and the Drug Rehabilitation Centre, Hon. Timothy Kalu Iheke’s administration has set a precedent for inclusive and compassionate governance, a reflection of Governor Alex Otti’s broader vision of a reformed, humane, and responsive Abia State.

Aba North now stands as a model of grassroots governance that truly cares for every citizen from the abandoned child to the recovering addict, embodying the spirit of a government that builds people, restores dignity, and renews hope.