A milestone was achieved in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly during its plenary session, as the Bureau for ICT, Innovation, and Emerging Technologies for the year 2023 successfully passed its second reading.
This was a sequel to the sponsorship of the bill by Hon. (Engr.) Uduak-Obong Ekpo-Uffot, the Member representing Etinan State Constituency.
This proposed legislation aims to establish a comprehensive legal framework that encompasses various aspects of information technology within the state. It encompasses planning, research, development, standardization, application, coordination, monitoring, evaluation, and regulation of IT practices, activities, and systems, along with related matters.
Hon. Ekpo-Ufot, during the bill’s introduction and debate, emphasized its capacity to coordinate ICT activities while ensuring universal access to information technology, spanning rural, urban, and underserved areas.
The envisioned Akwa Ibom State Bureau for ICT, Innovation, and Emerging Technologies will operate under the supervision of the State’s Ministry of Science and Technology, with a mandate to coordinate, administer, strategically plan, and monitor all ICT assets for the betterment of Akwa Ibomites and the State Government as a whole.
The bill’s provisions extend to the management of various ICT assets, encompassing domain names and official websites across government branches, local government councils, parastatals, MDAs, and even external liaisons with federal and international entities like the Nigerian Communications Commission, National Information Technology Development Agency, N.I.R.A, and Telecommunication, Media, and Technology firms.
The bill found strong support from members of the House, including Rt. Hon. KufreAbasi Edidem, Deputy Speaker, and Rt. Hon. (Barr) Otobong Bob, Deputy Leader of the House.
They voiced their approval of the legislation’s potential to create a conducive regulatory environment for private sector investments in information technology, and they commended Hon. Ekpo-Ufot for his sponsorship.
Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong, the Speaker of the House, subsequently referred the bill to the House Committee on Science and Technology for in-depth consideration.
This committee is expected to provide its report to the Assembly in less than one month.
During the same plenary session, another significant bill, the Akwa Ibom State Start-Up Bill, sponsored by Hon. (Engr.) Uduak-Obong Ekpo-Ufot along with 15 others, successfully passed the second reading.
Additionally, a bill aimed at preventing illegal mortuary placement within Akwa Ibom State, sponsored by Hon. Emem Udom, was introduced for its initial reading.
