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Governor Umo Eno signs 14 executive bills into law in one of Akwa Ibom’s biggest legislative reform packages.
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New laws establish AKWA-GIS, Emergency Medical Services Agency, Internal Revenue Service, Fiscal Responsibility Board and University of Education.
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Hospitals Management Board Law amended to decentralise hospital administration into zonal boards.
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Governor announces plans to redeploy doctors from administrative duties back to clinical practice.
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Environmental Sanitation Bill and additional health sector reforms to be sent to the House of Assembly.
July 29, (THEWILL) — Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has signed 14 executive bills into law in a sweeping institutional reform to strengthen governance, improve public service delivery and provide a stronger legal framework for key state institutions.
The legislation, assented to on Tuesday at the Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Uyo, is one of the most comprehensive reform packages under the current administration and is expected to drive reforms across healthcare, land administration, revenue generation, procurement, broadcasting, tourism and social welfare.
Governor Eno said the new laws would consolidate the gains of his administration’s ARISE Agenda by addressing policy gaps, strengthening institutions and ensuring continuity of development programmes.
“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”, the governor said.
Among the new laws are those establishing the Akwa Ibom State Geographical Information Service (AKWA-GIS) to modernise land administration, the Senior Citizens Centre to institutionalise welfare programmes for the elderly, the Hotels and Tourism Development Commission, and the Ibom Broadcasting Corporation to strengthen public broadcasting and reposition it for commercial operations.
Other institutions created by the legislation include the Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance Systems Agency, Public Procurement Regulatory Agency, Betting and Lottery Regulatory Agency, Fiscal Responsibility Board, Internal Revenue Service, Office of the Public Defender, Water Users Association and the University of Education, Afaha Nsit.
A key aspect of the reform package is the amendment to the Hospitals Management Board Law, which decentralises hospital administration into zonal management boards and provides for district hospitals to improve efficiency in healthcare delivery.
Governor Eno also disclosed plans to redeploy medical doctors currently serving in administrative positions back to clinical practice, warning that prolonged absence from medical work could undermine service delivery and patient safety.
On procurement reforms, the governor said the establishment of the Public Procurement Regulatory Agency would institutionalise transparency and accountability in government spending, adding that strict compliance with procurement procedures had contributed significantly to the success of his administration.
Speaking on the Betting and Lottery Regulatory Agency, Eno stressed that the law was intended to regulate operators, protect residents from fraudulent practices and ensure compliance with existing regulations.
“As a pastor, I believe in law and order. I do not encourage betting, but where it exists, it must be properly regulated”, he said.
The governor further announced that an Environmental Sanitation Bill would soon be transmitted to the State House of Assembly to strengthen environmental enforcement. Under the proposed legislation, the government would have powers to clean neglected premises, recover the cost from property owners and seal affected properties where necessary.
He also disclosed that additional healthcare reform bills would soon be forwarded to the legislature as part of ongoing efforts to reposition the state’s health sector.
Governor Eno commended the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong, members of the legislature and the Special Adviser on Legislative Affairs, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Bassey, for the cordial relationship between the executive and legislative arms of government.
Earlier, Speaker Otong described the legislative package as one of the most significant in the history of the Eighth Assembly, noting that the bills would strengthen governance, improve healthcare, boost economic development and enhance public service delivery.
He particularly hailed the amendment to the Hospitals Management Board Law, describing the establishment of zonal hospital management boards as a landmark reform that would improve healthcare administration and service delivery across the state.
The Speaker reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to supporting executive initiatives that promote sustainable development and improve the welfare of Akwa Ibom residents.
