(Akwa Ibom Governor, Umo Eno. Photo Credit: Channels Tv)
Umo Eno, the governor of Akwa Ibom State, signed 14 Executive Bills into law, characterizing them as a significant step toward institutionalizing reforms, bolstering governance, and extending the benefits of the ARISE Agenda.
According to a statement released on Wednesday by the Government House media unit in Uyo.
The laws would bridge policy gaps, guarantee the continuation of initiatives aimed at enhancing the welfare of the populace, and give vital institutions much-needed legal support.
He noted that the fourteen bills, spanning all critical sectors, would help expand the gains of the ARISE Agenda, provide the legal backing needed to close existing gaps with concrete action, and deepen the state’s growth and development in order to spread more dividends of democracy across society.
According to the statement, the new laws seek to establish the Akwa Ibom State Geographical Information Service to modernise land administration and simplify land verification, acquisition and transfer processes; the Senior Citizens Centre, to institutionalise welfare programmes for the elderly; the Hotels and Tourism Development Commission, to regulate standards and drive tourism development; and the Ibom Broadcasting Corporation, to strengthen public broadcasting and position the new station for commercial operations.
Other legislation establishes the Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance Systems Agency, the Public Procurement Regulatory Agency, the Betting and Lottery Regulatory Agency.
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.
Eno also assented to amendments to the Hospitals Management Board Law, decentralising hospital administration into zonal management boards and providing for district hospitals to improve efficiency in healthcare delivery.
He disclosed plans to redeploy medical doctors currently serving in administrative roles back into clinical practice, noting that prolonged absence from medical duties could adversely affect service delivery and patient safety.
He explained that the law establishing the Public Procurement Regulatory Agency would help consolidate transparency and accountability, stressing that adherence to procurement regulations had contributed significantly to the success of his administration.
On the Betting and Lottery Regulatory Agency, Eno clarified that the legislation was intended to regulate operators, protect residents from fraudulent activities and ensure compliance with the law, stating that as a pastor he believes in law and order, and while he does not encourage betting, where it exists it must be properly regulated.
The governor further announced that an Environmental Sanitation Bill would soon be transmitted to the State House of Assembly to strengthen environmental enforcement, explaining that it would empower government to clean up neglected premises, recover the cost from property owners and seal affected premises where necessary.
He stressed that Akwa Ibom people have long been known for cleanliness and expressed confidence that stronger legislation would help preserve that reputation while supporting the work of the Ministry of Environment and the Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency.
Eno also revealed that additional health sector reform bills would soon be forwarded to the Assembly as part of ongoing efforts to reposition healthcare delivery in the state, commending the Speaker, Udeme Otong, members of the Assembly and the Special Adviser on Legislative Affairs, Emmanuel Bassey, for what he described as exemplary cooperation between the executive and legislative arms of government.
Earlier, the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly described the package of legislation as one of the most significant in the history of the 8th Assembly, noting that the House had never before considered and passed such a large number of executive bills within so short a period.
He described the bills as people-oriented, with the potential to positively impact governance, healthcare, economic development and public service delivery across the state.
The Speaker particularly commended 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 and ensure more efficient services for citizens.
He reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to supporting the executive through timely consideration of bills aimed at promoting the state’s development, stressing that these were people-oriented bills that would affect the lives, growth and development of Akwa Ibom State, and pledged continued collaboration with the executive to move the state forward.