Akwa Ibom Government has boosted its legal system in the state with the signing of three new bills into law.

Gov Godswill Akpabio (middle) signing the 2011 Appropriation Bill; Akwa Ibom State Emergency Management Agency law, State and Local Government Boundary Committee Law, (left) is Engr. Patrick Ekpotu and Barr Ekpenyong

The bills signed today into law by Governor Godswill O. Akpabio at the new Governor’s Office Executive Council, Uyo are 2011 Appropriation, Akwa Ibom State Emergency Management Agency and State and Local Government Boundary Committee Acts.

It would be recalled that the three bills were passed into law by Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly recently.

Akwa Ibom Governor, Chief Godswill O. Akpabio who thanked Hon. Anietie Etuk, Speaker of Akwa Ibom House of Assembly for the speedy deliberations and passage of the bills into law extolled the co-operation and symbiotic relationship between the House and the Executive arm of government in the state.

Chief Akpabio observed that in other states budgets passed into law are not easily implemented, but promised to leave no stone unturned in ensuring the quick implementation of the state budget to enhance even development of the state.

Commenting on Akwa Ibom State Emergency Management Agency Act, the Governor said the emergency law was to minimize losses and set up offices in the state to stem unforeseen disasters in the state.

He recalled that during the recent stampede in Port Harcourt during the PDP rally, 16 Akwa Ibom indigenes were affected and being taken care by the government while their medical expenses are to be settled by the government.

Chief Akpabio speaking on the State and Local Government Boundary Committee Act explained that it would serve as an ad-hoc body to incessant boundary problems that would have resulted in prolonged litigations and loss of life and property, thereby resolving such in the interest of peaceful co-existence and harmonious relationship among the people.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Bassey Akpan, had said this year’s budget tagged Budget of Completion and Uncommon Transformation has N305 billion, showing N265 billion for Capital Expenditure and N40 billion for Recurrent Expenditure.

Mr. Akpan noted that Akpabio administration has been consistent in maintaining 80 per cent on Capital Expenditure and 20 per cent on Recurrent Expenditure, adding that for this year’s budget, 82 per cent goes to Capital Expenditure while Recurrent Expenditure has 18 per cent.

He announced government’s intention to focus this year’s budget on industrialization, construction of roads in Etinan, Mkpat Enin, Ini and Uruan Local Government Areas, among others.

The Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General for the state, Barr. Ekpenyong Ntekim, said Akwa Ibom State Emergency Management Agency Act is to focus on disaster-related matters and consolidate on emergency cases as well as educate the public on the need to forestall disasters.

Barr. Ntekim hinted that the State and Local Government Boundary Committee Act was to serve as a liaison between the state and national emergency committees as well as to intervene and stem boundary crisis among communities.