Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has assented to 14 executive bills passed by the state House of Assembly, describing the legislation as a major step towards strengthening governance and consolidating his administration’s development agenda.
The governor signed the bills on Wednesday in Uyo, according to a statement issued by the Government House media unit.
Eno said the new laws would provide the legal framework needed to strengthen key institutions, address gaps in existing policies and ensure the continuity of programmes aimed at improving the welfare of residents.
“These bills, fourteen in all, spanning all critical sectors, will help expand the gains of our ARISE Agenda, provide the legal backing to fill existing gaps with concrete actions and deepen our growth and development so we may spread more dividends of democracy across our society,” he said.
Among the new laws is legislation establishing the Akwa Ibom State Geographical Information Service, AKWA-GIS, which is expected to modernise land administration and make land verification, acquisition and transfer easier.
Other laws provide for the establishment of a Senior Citizens Centre, Hotels and Tourism Development Commission, Ibom Broadcasting Corporation, Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance Systems Agency, Public Procurement Regulatory Agency and Betting and Lottery Regulatory Agency.
The legislation also establishes the Fiscal Responsibility Board, the Internal Revenue Service, the Office of the Public Defender, the Water Users Association, and the University of Education, Afaha Nsit.
The governor also assented to amendments to the Hospitals Management Board Law, which decentralises hospital administration through the creation of zonal management boards and provides for the establishment of district hospitals.
Eno said the health sector reform was aimed at improving efficiency and service delivery, adding that medical doctors currently occupying administrative positions would be redeployed to clinical duties.
He expressed concern that doctors who remain away from clinical practice for extended periods could lose vital professional skills, which may affect patient safety and the quality of healthcare delivery.
Speaking on the Public Procurement Regulatory Agency, the governor said the new law would strengthen transparency and accountability in government procurement.
He also explained that the Betting and Lottery Regulatory Agency was established to regulate existing operators and protect residents from fraudulent practices.
“This is a regulatory agency. As a pastor, I believe in law and order. I do not encourage betting, but where it exists, it must be properly regulated,” Eno said.
The governor further disclosed that an Environmental Sanitation Bill would soon be presented to the state House of Assembly.
According to him, the proposed law would empower the government to clean neglected or abandoned premises, recover the cost from property owners and seal such properties when necessary.
Eno said the measure was intended to preserve Akwa Ibom’s reputation for cleanliness and strengthen the activities of the Ministry of Environment and the Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency.
He also announced plans to submit additional health sector reform bills to the Assembly as part of efforts to improve healthcare delivery across the state.
The governor commended the Speaker of the Assembly, Udeme Otong, lawmakers and the Special Adviser on Legislative Affairs, Emmanuel Bassey, for their cooperation in facilitating the passage of the bills.
Otong described the legislation as a significant milestone for the eighth Assembly, noting that the lawmakers had considered and passed an unusually large number of executive bills within a short period.
He said the laws were people-focused and would have an impact on governance, healthcare, economic development and public service delivery.
The Speaker particularly highlighted the amendment to the Hospitals Management Board Law, describing the creation of zonal hospital management boards as a landmark reform that would improve healthcare administration.
“These are all people-oriented bills that will affect the lives, the growth and the development of Akwa Ibom State. We will continue to work with the Executive to move the state forward,” Otong said.
