Umuahia: Gov. Alex Otti of Abia has assented to 18 Executive Bills to strengthen the operations of the structured reforms introduced by the state to improve the people’s lives. The Commissioner for Information, Mr Okey Kanu, said this while briefing newsmen at the Government House, Umuahia on the outcome of the May Expanded Executive Council Meeting.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Kanu stated that the administration’s second anniversary programmes included the ongoing inspection of projects by former Gov. Ayo Fayose of Ekiti. The State Government has paid the counterpart fund of N3.5 billion as a requirement and support for six lots of roads for maintenance and five lots of grade roads across 10 LGAs in the state and three agro-logistics hubs. This was achieved through the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Programme (RAAMP). Kanu noted that with a similar action expected from the World Bank, the project would soon commence, benefiting 10 or more LGAs.
The Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of the state, Mr Ikechukwu Uwanna, revealed that the 18 Executive Bills have increased the number of executive bills signed into law in the administration to 30. Uwanna highlighted the major ones, including the update of the Abia Homeland Security Act to incorporate the creation of an effective Forest Guard as directed by President Bola Tinubu. Additionally, the Abia State Bonds Act was enacted to enable the state to raise funds at the capital market for development.
The Abia State Ombudsman and Public Complaints Commission have been officially established through an Act, and the Abia State Estate Development Agency has been scrapped, with its staff members absorbed by the Ministry of Lands. Uwanna further explained that the Umuahia Capital Development Agency, Abia Orientation Agency, and Abia State Fire Service will now report to the Ministry of Lands, Ministry of Information, and Ministry of Homeland Security, respectively.
The Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Mrs Blessing Felix, announced that the governor also assented to the Abia Senior Citizens’ Bill. Felix stated that, once operational, the Act would ensure that the welfare of every Abia citizen above 60 would be taken care of by the government.