Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno has signed 14 Executive Bills into law, saying the legislation will strengthen governance, improve public service delivery and provide legal backing for key reforms under his administration’s ARISE Agenda.
The governor, who assented to the bills in Uyo, described the laws as a significant milestone in institutionalising reforms across critical sectors, including healthcare, education, land administration, tourism, revenue generation and public procurement.
According to a statement from the Government House Media Unit, the new laws are designed to close policy gaps, strengthen government institutions and ensure 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,” Governor Eno said.
Among the newly enacted laws is the establishment of the Akwa Ibom State Geographical Information Service (AKWA-GIS), which is expected to modernise land administration by simplifying land verification, acquisition and transfer processes.
Other institutions created by the legislation include the Senior Citizens Centre, Hotels and Tourism Development Commission, Ibom Broadcasting Corporation, 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.
Healthcare reforms
Governor Eno also signed amendments to the Hospitals Management Board Law, decentralising hospital administration through zonal management boards and introducing district hospitals to improve efficiency in healthcare delivery.
He disclosed plans to redeploy medical doctors currently serving in administrative positions back to clinical duties, warning that prolonged absence from medical practice could affect patient care and service delivery.
The governor said more health sector reform bills would soon be transmitted to the State House of Assembly as part of efforts to strengthen healthcare services across the state.
Procurement, betting regulation
Speaking on the Public Procurement Regulatory Agency, Eno said the law would reinforce transparency and accountability in government spending, adding that compliance with procurement regulations had contributed to the achievements of his administration.
On the Betting and Lottery Regulatory Agency, the governor said the legislation was not intended to promote gambling but to regulate operators and protect residents from fraudulent activities.
“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,” he said.
Environmental law underway
Governor Eno also announced plans to send an Environmental Sanitation Bill to lawmakers, saying it would empower authorities to clean neglected premises, recover costs from property owners and seal buildings where necessary.
He said the proposed law would help preserve Akwa Ibom’s reputation for cleanliness while strengthening the work of the Ministry of Environment and the state environmental protection agency.
The governor commended Speaker Udeme Otong, members of the State House of Assembly and the Special Adviser on Legislative Affairs, Emmanuel Bassey, for what he described as strong collaboration between the executive and legislative arms of government.
Earlier, Speaker Udeme Otong described the package of legislation as one of the most significant ever passed by the 8th Assembly, noting that the House had never considered and approved such a large number of executive bills within such a short period.
“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,” the Speaker said.
