The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has passed four executive bills into law, among which are laws establishing the Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service and the Office of the Public Defender, aimed at providing legal aid and public defense for indigent and vulnerable persons in the state.
Other bills that were approved include a Law to Harmonise and Consolidate the Legal Framework Relating to Taxes in Akwa Ibom State and a law to provide for the Establishment and Regulation of Water User Associations in the state and for Other Matters Connected Therewith.
Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong, the Speaker of the House, announced the passage of the bills after the House Leader, Rt. Hon. Otobong Bob, moved the motion during the House proceedings in Uyo on Tuesday.
The passage followed the adoption of reports from the committees on Finance and Appropriation, Rural Development and Public Utilities, and Judiciary, Justice, Human Rights, and Public Petitions, where the bills underwent a series of legislative processes, including public hearings.
In her report, Hon. Itorobong Etim, Chair of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, explained that the law establishing the state’s Internal Revenue Service would enhance the internally generated revenue (IGR) of the state, promote transparency, accountability, and probity in the system, broaden the tax base, reduce tax leakages, increase efficiency in revenue generation, and stimulate the state’s economic growth and development.
Similarly, Hon. Etim stated that the law to harmonise and consolidate the legal framework relating to taxes would eliminate multiple taxation and illegal collections, thereby preventing taxpayers from being charged similar taxes by different tiers of government.
According to her, the law would clearly define tax jurisdiction, reduce conflicts and overlaps among tax authorities, minimize tax evasion and avoidance through a coordinated collection system, improve transparency and accountability to enhance public confidence in the tax system, prevent fragmented collection efforts that may lead to inefficiencies and leakages, and improve the quality of revenue data for budgeting and fiscal planning.
Also in his report, Hon. Aniefiok Attah, Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Justice, Human Rights, and Public Petitions, noted that the law establishing the Office of the Public Defender would provide an institution for legal aid and public defense in the state.
Attah said the law ensures access to justice for indigent and vulnerable persons who are unable to afford legal representation, while protecting and promoting the constitutional rights and fundamental freedoms of those requiring legal assistance.
Additionally, Rt. Hon. Asuquo Nana Udo, Chairman of the House Committee on Rural Development and Public Utilities, stated that the law providing for the establishment and regulation of Water User Associations would help manage water supply systems in their areas of operation.
He said the law would operate and maintain water and irrigation infrastructure, provide water to members, and collect and retain fees for the operation, maintenance, expansion, as well as ensure improvement of water and irrigation infrastructure.
The Speaker, therefore, directed the Clerk of the House to produce clean copies of the bills for Governor Umo Eno’s assent.
