Akwa Ibom Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has signed fourteen Executive Bills into law in a landmark move aimed at strengthening governance as well as institutionalise key reforms and advancing the implementation of the administration’s ARISE Agenda.

Eno who performed at the Government House, Uyo, describing the legislations as a significant milestone that would provide the legal framework needed to improve public institutions, enhance service delivery and ensure the continuity of people-oriented programmes.

According to the Governor, the new laws cover critical sectors of the state’s economy and governance and are designed to deepen development while extending the dividends of democracy to more citizens.

“The bills, fourteen in all, spanning all critical sectors, will help expand the gains of our Agenda, providing 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.

He cited them as follows: Akwa Ibom State Geographical Information Service (AKWA-GIS), which is expected to modernise land administration and simplify land verification, acquisition and transfer processes.

“The newly established institutions include the Senior Citizens Centre, the Hotels and Tourism Dev. Commission, Ibom Broadcasting Corporation, Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance Systems Agency, Public Procurement Regulatory Agency, Betting and Lottery Regulatory Agency.

Others are: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.”

Governor Eno also signed into law amendments to the Hospitals Management Board Law, decentralising hospital administration through zonal management boards and creating district hospitals to improve efficiency in healthcare delivery across the state.

He hinted that plans to redeploy medical doctors currently serving in administrative positions back to clinical practice, stressing that prolonged absence from medical work could affect healthcare quality and patient safety.

On the Public Procurement Regulatory Agency, Governor Eno said the law would strengthen transparency and accountability in government spending, noting that strict compliance with procurement procedures has contributed to the success of his administration.

Similarly, he explained that the objective is to regulate operators, protect residents from fraudulent activities and ensure compliance with existing laws, citing the Betting and Lottery Regulatory Agency. “As a pastor, I believe in law and order, and would not encourage betting, but where it exists, it must be properly regulated.”