Gov Ayade Signs 8 Bills Into Law
Posted on May 27, 2017
BY DAVID ODEY
The Governor of Cross River State, Prof Ben Ayade has signed eight bills into law.
The ceremony was performed at Calabar International Convention Centre Friday as part of the 4-day activities organized to mark the 50th anniversary of the creation of Cross River State.
Among the bills passed for the establishment of various regulatory agencies and commissions are: Centre for Citizens’ Right Bill, Cross River State Waterways Agency Bill, Scrap Regulatory Agency Bill and Lottery Board Bill.
Others are: Hawkers’ Right Bill, Bill for the Establishment of Emergency Management Agency, Bill for the Establishment of Cross River State House of Assembly Commission, among others.
In his remarks after signing the bills into law, Governor Ayade said: “Today is a special day in Cross River State. It is very epochal. It represents a new spirit and a new beginning for us.
“Cross River holds a special position in the history of Nigeria. It is the first capital of the country. We are the first people to have contact with civilization. We are very articulate. The state is the epicenter of conservation and tourism in Nigeria. We have done well.
“I feel a sense of joy. We have reasons to celebrate at 50. We must dedicate the celebration to God. We have had our fair share of challenges but we have always overcome.”
He praised past governors of the state for taking the state to the high level of development it has attained in the past 50 years and promised to build on his predecessors’ achievements despite the fact that he is in the saddle at a time there is economic recession, loss of oil wells, ceding of Bakassi and other challenges.
Governor Ayade promised to forge ahead with his signature projects, such as the Super Highway and the Deep Sea Port, saying funding won’t be a problem.
He urged everyone to pray for the speedy recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari who is sensitive to the yearning of the people of Cross River State and is interested in the actualization of the projects.
The Governor granted pardon to some prison inmates Saturday as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations.
Earlier, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. John Gaul Lebo, said most of the eight bills signed into law were Governor Ayade’s ideas.
He said the state’s legislature had passed 36 bills, adding that the legislature “is playing a critical role in decoupling the state’s economy from dependence on federal allocation in line with the vision of the state governor.”
Also speaking before the bill signing ceremony, the Chairman of the Central Planning Committee of the Golden Jubilee celebration and former Military of Governor Kwara State, Col. P.A.M. Ogar (retd.), traced the history of the creation of the state on 27 May, 1967, what led to its creation along with 11 other states by Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.), and its developmental strides under the 18 governors that have governed the state since 1967.
The Economic Adviser to the Governor, Dr. Francis Ntanu, while giving an overview of the performance of the Governor Ayade administration and what lies ahead, said: “The 30-year Growth and Development Strategy of the state is to make it a prosperous Nigerian state with healthy and well educated citizens living in harmony with people and nature, pursuing inclusive and sustainable growth moderated by good governance.”
The anniversary activities were rounded off Saturday at the Calabar International Convention Centre where eminent personalities were given awards for their contributions to the development of the state in the past 50 years.
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