A Bill to provide for the Development and Regulation of the Water Sector Establishment of Water Corporation, Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, Water Council and Regulatory Commission and Waste Water Management, has been passed into law by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.
The passage followed a report of the Joint House Committee on Rural Development and Public Utilities and Environment presented by its Chairman, Dr Usoro Akpanusoh (Esit Eket/Ibeno) at Plenary on Tuesday.
According to the report, Dr Akpanusoh noted that the Bill, when passed into law, will provide sufficient and safe water to the citizens of Akwa Ibom State.
He said the Bill will also make the state to “stand a better chance to benefit from various donor funded projects which abound in the country. Akwa Ibom Water Company Limited will also receive legal backing to arrest and prosecute wanton destruction of our assets, amongst other benefits.”
“There will be effective liaison between the private agencies and the government in the provision of portable and clean water in the rural communities of the state.
“Theft and vandalism of water equipment will be reduced and effective monitoring of our geological resources will be enhance, since water is an inexhaustible, commodity,” he added.
After considering the report at the Committee of the Whole, presided over by Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey as Chairman, the Bill was read the third time and passed into Law.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Bassey, who thanked Members for the their immense contributions, further directed the Clerk, Mrs Mandu Umoren to communicate the decision of the House to the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State.
Meanwhile, the House has adjourned its plenary to Thursday, July 21, 2022 by 10:00am.
