By Ijendu Iheaka

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.

Kanu said 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 is through the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Programme (RAAMP).

“So, the state has paid its counterpart funds and we expect that with a similar action from the World Bank, the project will kick off around the state and 10 or more LGAs will benefit,” he said.

Contributing, the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of the state, Mr Ikechukwu Uwanna, said the 18 Executive Bills had increased the number of executive bills signed into law in the administration to 30.

Uwanna listed the major ones as the Abia Homeland Security Act, which had been updated to incorporate the creation of an effective Forest Guard as directed by President Bola Tinubu.

He also said that the Abia State Bonds Act was enacted to enable the state to raise funds at the capital market for development.

Uwanna also said that the Abia State Ombudsman and Public Complaints Commission had been officially established through an Act.

He said that the Abia State Estate Development Agency had been scrapped and its staff members absorbed by the Ministry of Lands.

According to him, the Umuahia Capital Development Agency, Abia Orientation Agency and Abia State Fire Service will no longer report to the governor.

“These agencies will now report to the Ministry of Lands, Ministry of Information and Ministry of Homeland Security, respectively,” he said.

The Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Mrs Blessing Felix, said that the governor also assented to the Abia Senior Citizens’ Bill.

Felix said that, when operational, the Act would ensure that the welfare of every Abia citizen above 60 would be taken care of by the government. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sam Oditah