Akwa Ibom governor signs 14 bills into law

Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno has enacted a significant legislative push, signing 14 executive bills into law. He described these new laws as a pivotal step in reinforcing governance, embedding reforms, and expanding the achievements of the ARISE Agenda. The legislation is designed to provide essential legal backing for key institutions, address policy deficiencies, and ensure the sustained implementation of programs aimed at enhancing the welfare of the state's residents.

The newly passed laws span a broad spectrum of critical sectors. They include the establishment of the Akwa Ibom State Geographical Information Service (AKWA-GIS) to modernize land administration and streamline processes for land verification, acquisition, and transfer. The Senior Citizens Centre will institutionalize welfare programs for the elderly, while the Hotels and Tourism Development Commission will regulate standards and promote tourism. Additionally, the Ibom Broadcasting Corporation is set to be strengthened to enhance public broadcasting and prepare for commercial operations.

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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.

Further 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 in Afaha Nsit. Amendments to the Hospitals Management Board Law will decentralize hospital administration into zonal management boards and create district hospitals, aiming to boost efficiency in healthcare services.

Governor Eno also detailed plans to reassign medical doctors from administrative roles back to clinical practice, noting that extended absences can negatively impact service delivery and patient safety. He highlighted the Public Procurement Regulatory Agency law as a means to consolidate transparency and accountability, emphasizing its role in his administration's success. Regarding the Betting and Lottery Regulatory Agency, Eno clarified its purpose is regulation and consumer protection, stating, "As a pastor, I believe in law and order. I do not encourage betting, but where it exists, it must be properly regulated."

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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.