A’Ibom Govt Approves Establishment Of Public Defender’s Office For Justice, Social Welfare

By Bassey Nkponam 
UYO
In its bid to give effect to the promotion of justice, social welfare, safety and security management component of the ARISE Agenda blueprint, the Akwa Ibom government has approved the establishment of the Office of the Public Defender under the Ministry of Justice.
The approval was given by the state governor, Pastor Umo Eno, during the State executive council meeting which took place at the State executive council chambers of the Government House, Uyo, recently.
The role of the proposed office would be to provide free legal representation to indigent residents and ensure they receive fair treatment under the law; reduce number of suspects detained without trial, protect rights of the vulnerable, and educate citizens on their rights and obligations to promote justice sector reforms.
The commissioner for information, Dr Aniekan Umanah, who stated this in an excerpt from the Exco meeting, said “In giving effect to the promotion of justice, social welfare, safety and security management components of the ARISE Agenda, the Executive Council considered and approved a memo for the establishment of the Office of the Public Defender, under the Ministry of Justice, to provide free legal representation to indigent residents and ensure they receive fair treatment under the law, reduce number of suspects detained without trial, protect rights of the vulnerable, educate citizens on their rights and obligations to promote justice sector reforms”.
Umanah said the governor, in a bid to realign and update ministerial responsibilities as well as resolve areas of overlap, also approved the composition of a special committee to implement the exercise.
   The committee which, according to him, has six weeks to submit its report, is chaired by the secretary to the state government (SSG), Prince Enobong Uwah, with the head of the civil service, Elder Effiong Essien; executive assistant, Mr Aniefiok Johnson; attorney general and commissioner for Justice, Uko Udom, SAN; solicitor-general of the State and permanent secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mfon Inuaesiet Edemekong, Esq, as well as managing director of AKICORP, Pastor Imoabasi Jacob, as members.
He said, following the review of the report of the inter-ministerial committee on the implementation of the state of emergency in the health sector, council approved projects and programmes timelines especially the recruitment of doctors and medical professionals, increase in special peculiar allowances for medical personnel, skipping policy for the health sector, evaluation and completion of BOQs for phase 1 of the rehabilitation of selected hospitals and primary healthcare facilities within two weeks to enable health infrastructure interventions to commence by November 1; health sector stakeholders dialogue scheduled for November 8-9, 2025; medical residency training fund subject to the requisite agreements and the inauguration of General Hospital, Ukanafun, on November 10, 2025.
Umanah further stated that council, in its drive to improve the standard and quality of teachers’ education in line with the human capital development of the ARiSE Agenda, adopted the memo for the upgrade of the College of Education, Afaha Nsit to Akwa Ibom State University of Education and approved same for regularisation.