Bill to establish Environmental Protection, Waste Management and Agency passed into law
A Bill to establish the Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency has been passed into law.
The bill was earlier referred to the Committee on Environment for in-depth study and more legislative work.
Presenting the report at Plenary on Tuesday, Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Mark Esset, noted that the passage of the Bill would ensure Akwa Ibom State and its citizens enjoy clean air, water, land, while maintaining its status as the cleanest state in Nigeria.
Esset noted that the law would engender the application of organised and concerted efforts by the Agency to reduce environmental risks based on best scientific information.
“The passage of the Bill will ensure that contaminated land and toxic sites are cleaned up and revitalized by potentially responsible parties. The bill will also eliminate overlaps and conflict of powers between the Ministry of Environment and the Agency”, he said.
Also at the Plenary, the Akwa Ibom State Education Trust Fund Bill, 2021, sponsored by Aniekan Uko (Ibesikpo Asutan state constituency) was read the second time. It was committed to the House Committee on Education for in-depth study and scrutiny, with a directive for the Committee to report back within one month.
Similarly, a Bill to Provide for the Establishment of Akwa Ibom State Bureau of Statistics for the Collection, Compilation, Analysis, Publication and Dissemination of the Statistical System, sponsored Aniekan Uko, passed through the first reading. It was referred to the House Committee on Rules, Business, Ethics and Privileges for rescheduling.
The House also ratified the report of the Public Accounts Committee on Covid-19 Budge Execution Report of Akwa Ibom State Government for the Quarter Ended, 30th September, 2020.
Meanwhile, the House has adjourned its plenary to Thursday, February 11, 2021.
