The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, on Thursday, 9th January 2024 passed into law The Akwa Ibom State Bureau for ICT & Emerging Technologies Law, 2025. The passage of the Bill was sequel to the presentation of its report by the Committee on Science & Technology to the Committee.
Hon (Engr) Uduak-Obong Ekpo-Ufot, the Member representing Etinan State Constituency & Chairman of the Committee said the Bill which has 39 clauses, seeks to Coordinate, Own, Administer, Standardize, Strategic Plan, Monitor, (in their respective entireties) ALL the ICT-related assets in the best interest of Akwa Ibomites & the Akwa Ibom State Government as a whole. ICT-related assets including but not limited to: Domain Names, All Official Websites across the Executive, Legislative, Judiciary, Boards & Commissions, Local Government Councils, Parastatals, MDAs e.t.c.
He added that the Bill, when assented to, would strengthen the Executive framework for the functioning of the Ministry of Science & Digital Economy and also Provide guidelines to facilitate the establishment and maintenance of appropriate information technology and system application and development in Akwa Ibom for public and private sectors urban- rural development; the economy and government in line with NITDA (National Information Technology Development Bureau) guidelines.
The Bill, when assented to, will also Prepare Akwa Ibom State for the Emerging Technologies of the future develop guidelines for electronic governance and monitor the use of electronic data interchange and other forms of electronic data interchange and other forms of electronic communication transactions as an alternative to paper-based methods in government, commerce, education, private & public sector, labour and other fields, where the use of electronic communication may improve the exchange of data & information
The erudite & well speaking Hon Uduak-Obong Ekpo-Ufot has interestingly facilitated the passage of a number of Private Member Bills into Law- these include The Akwa Ibom State Start-Up Bill, A Bill For A Law to End Discrimination Against People With Disabilities & today, the Akwa Ibom State Buruea for ICT & Emerging Technologies Bill. Per the Legislative process, all 3 bills await assent by the Executive Governor, Pastor Umo Eno (PHD).
With 3 Bills, 7 Motions & 1 Matter of Urgent Public Importance under his belt in just 18 months in office, this Legislator’s exceptional performance is keenly being observed by all and sundry- more details on the specifics of his activities is readily available on www.etinansc.com
