Former members of the Cross River State House of Assembly have appealed to the 10th Assembly to enact laws that would cater to their welfare.

The ex-legislators made the appeal during a special sitting to mark the end of the first session of the 10th Assembly in Calabar.

Speaking on behalf of the former lawmakers, Hon. Okon Ephraim, who represented Calabar South 1 Constituency, congratulated the Assembly on what he described as a more impactful performance compared to their own tenure.

“We are calling on you to consider enacting laws to address our health and welfare needs. If our request is granted, you too will benefit when you become former lawmakers like us,” Ephraim said.

He added that current legislators should remember that they, too, would one day become visitors to the Assembly where they once served.

Earlier, the Speaker, Elvert Ayambem, highlighted the achievements of the Assembly during the past year, assuring that the welfare of members and staff would remain a top priority.

Ayambem promised that the requests of the former lawmakers would be considered, noting that the Assembly values their legislative experience.

He also urged members and staff to sustain the spirit of cooperation that has helped build a viable House.

According to the Speaker, during the year under review, lawmakers attended capacity-building workshops in Lagos and Abuja, while staff received in-house training.

He added that two staff members were recently trained on e-governance at the University of Calabar through a Korean government programme in partnership with the federal and state Ministries of Science, Innovation, and Technology.

Ayambem disclosed that the Assembly passed 39 bills during the period, nine of which are at various stages of reading, with several already assented to by Governor Bassey Otu.