By: Imo Thomas -Umuahia.
The Governor of Abia state, Dr. Alex Otti, has signed the Abia state Senior Citizens bill and 17 other Executive bills passed by the Abia state House of Assembly into law.
The State Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this at the Government House Umuahia on Monday evening while briefing newsmen on the outcome of this week’s expanded EXCO meeting chaired by Governor Alex Otti.
The Information Commissioner said that the 18 executive bills signed into law by Governor Alex Otti bring the number of Executive bills passed by Abia state House of Assembly and signed into law by the Governor to 30 within his two years in office.
“This landmark achievement seeks to institutionalize the reforms and transformations that have so far taken place in Abia state,” Kanu said.
He noted that the two-year administration of Governor Alex Otti has been full of monumental achievements, as can be felt and touched by all and sundry, assuring that greater strides lie ahead.
The Information Commissioner equally disclosed that the state government in its commitment to the development of Abia state rural community has paid a counterpart fund of 3.5 billion Naira as a requirement for the upgrade of roads and setting up of agro logistics hubs in about 10 LGAS of the state under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Program (RAMP).
He said the projects are expected to commence across the benefitting LGAs soonest.
“So the state has paid its own counterpart funds, and we expect that with similar action from the World Bank, that project will kick off around the state, “Kanu assured.
Contributing, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Ikechukwu Uwann, said that the laws signed would transform the landscape of governance in the state, adding that they underscore the government’s commitment to institutionalizing the reforms and changes being brought into governance.
“However, it’s important to note that these bills underscore His Excellency’s commitment to institutionalizing the reforms and changes that he’s bringing together in governance in the state.
“These bills also form the fulcrum, the engine block for all the roads that you see, for the infrastructural development that is going on across the state, for the massive reforms that are being carried all around the state. So that underscores the importance of these bills that have now been passed into law,” Barr. Uwanna stated.
Barr. Uwanna further revealed that with the 18 laws, some agencies have been moved from reporting directly to the office of the Governor to their line Ministries for optimal performance.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Poverty alleviation and Social protection Mrs Ngozi Blessing Felix said that Governor Otti, has through the payment of the counterpart fund demonstrated once again commitment to the development of rural communities through investing in long term solutions.
“Recently, His Excellency has demonstrated once again his commitment to the development of our rural communities by investing in long-term solutions as regards road infrastructure under the Abia States Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project.
“He recently approved the payment of the counterpart fund to the tune of 3.5 billion Naira, which is a key requirement for all states who are participating on the rural access project. Abia is one of the states,” Mrs. Felix stated.
