BY GEORGE FRANCIS
The Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State 6th House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke has restated the commitment of the house to justify the faith and confidemce of Akwa Ibom masses in the legislature.
Speaker Luke made the statement, Tuesday, during plenary after the house read for a third time and passed into law, a bill for a law to provide for the Establishment of the Primary Healthcare Development Agency in the state.
The Primary Healthcare Development Agency Bill was sponsored by Speaker Luke, with twelve (12) others as co-sponsors. The law takes effect from May 30th, 2017.
In his reaction, the Speaker thanked his members for their sheer commitment and support in ensuring that this people-oriented bill sees the light of day.
He said: "as a house, we will continue to put the people first in our quest to justify their faith in us as the people’s assembly."
He also expressed appreciation to the chairman and members of the Health Committee of the House, as well as stakeholders who turned up for the public hearing which preceded the lawmakers’ consideration of the bill for passage.
He lauded their inputs, cooperation and support which he said were central to the smooth passage of the bill.
According to Luke, his motivation for the sponsorship of the bill stemmed from the need to support the state government’s efforts towards reviving the primary healthcare system in the state for effective and quality service delivery, as well as the need to revive the primary healthcare system in our state to be at par with what is obtainable in other states of the federation.
“We were also propelled by the necessity of getting our State to have a legal framework for primary healthcare delivery.
And very importantly, we were dissatisfied with the fact that Akwa Ibom State was among the four states that did not have this law.
It was on these premises that I, together with twelve of my colleagues, took up the sponsorship of this all important bill.
"As one of the priority bills that this Assembly is committed to passing into law, the passage of this bill today is a demonstration of our commitment to contribute to healthcare delivery in our state through sound legislation as indicated in our legislative agenda.
That commitment, like in the last two years, is further made manifest today through the passage of this bill.
As part of the commitment to further strengthen healthcare delivery in Akwa Ibom, very soon, we will be passing the state health insurance scheme bill,” Luke added.
He stressed that the law seeks to, among others, ensure equal delivery of affordable and quality healthcare services to Akwa Ibom people.
His words: "Today marks a major milestone in the life of this assembly. It is a day that gives me a lot of fulfillment, first, as a lawmaker and second, as the lead sponsor of the primary healthcare development agency bill.
This is because the passage of this bill into law today will go a long way in revolutionising Primary Healthcare Delivery Services in our state."
Meanwhile, the House, on the same day also read for the second time, the Akwa Ibom State Social Housing Agency Bill sponsored by the Assembly’s Speaker and member representing Nsit Ubium state constituency, Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke and the Akwa Ibom Structure for Signage and Advertisement Control Agency bill sponsored by Hon David Lawrence of Eket state constituency.
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