By Bassey Nkponam
UYO
The Akwa Ibom government has held its maiden ministerial briefing and end of the year review aimed at assessing key achievements of the Umo Eno-led administration in different Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
The 3-day programme, which commenced on Monday, December16, 2024, at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo, sought to assess successful and ongoing projects embarked upon by the Umo Eno-led administration and outline key targets for the 2025 budget in line with the ARISE Agenda.
The State governor, Pastor Umo Eno, in his remarks, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to remain transparent and accountable to the citizens, while also investing in the people and development of the State.
Eno noted that his administration is not flawless but has put itself forward to give account of its stewardship on how far it has gone, as it has two and a half years to make amends if it has not gone the right path, and “if we have gone the right path, we have two and a half years to consolidate on the things we have done”.
According to him, government has strived to keep to the ARISE Agenda, and has in every step measured its actions in line with the blueprint it presented to the Akwa Ibom people, adding that the ministerial briefing was not an examination or scorecard, but an opportunity for the executive team to brief stakeholders on the accomplishment of government through their various ministries, while government learns from the exercise, as one man cannot run alone.
“I make bold to say that we have done well from my own assessment.But it is left for you, the critical stakeholders to help us. That’s why we put ourselves forth to discuss and share with you so that you can understand and can also speak boldly. You can be proud if you do the right thing; you can also say that we are not as a government afraid of criticism. Far from it.
“We welcome constructive criticism. What actually should happen is that we need to engage the Akwa Ibom people. We need to listen to them some more, and they need to tell us but when criticism becomes condemning, then it becomes a problem. It weighs down leadership because in every person, there are the good and the bad side.
“So I believe that if we extol the good virtue and then we can have the right to talk about the weak side and we can learn,” Eno hinted, and noted that his administration has done everything it could to run a people centric government and has shown accountability and transparency, bring to bear prudency in managing the State’s resources to inspire faith, ownership and trust in governance as a force for good.
He recalled that government has in the last 18 months concentrated on those things that will help the people and has as much as possible ran away from things that will not create value for the people.
The governor disclosed the plans of organising town hall meeting next year in federal constituency basis, at least twice a month, adding that the ministerial briefing and end of the year review is a prelude of the proposed town hall meeting to aid early formulation of the 2026 budget.
“I hold myself accountable for the people of Akwa Ibom State for the fund we have been blessed with, and I will not flitter the fund away in an attempt to play to the gallery.If there is anything people will blame me about and I am sure you are going to hear more of it as we prepare to give you ministerial briefing. I pray the people that say so will be ready to tell you there’s no release of funds.
“Fund are released to pursue ideas and projects that will be beneficial to the overall good of the Akwa Ibom People.In the 2025 budget where we have christened, ‘the budget of consolidation’, we will find out that one third of the budget is for capital expenditure, and one third is for recurrent expenditure and that is to signpost the fact that we believe we must develop infrastructure for our people.We must invest in our people and in the State for a long-time benefit.
“The little money we have now should rather be invested on infrastructure that will bring us dividends. I will make sure that we continue to run, and I believe that those of us that God has given privilege to lead our State at this time will have the responsibility to ensure we lay that foundation correctly. We will invest on those things that when Abuja will no longer be able to give us the money we need, we will be able to call in those investments, and that’s what we are doing.”
He said the event was for the crystallisation of ideas to ensure that Akwa Ibom outlives all its leaders and citizens.
Setting the tone for the event, the secretary to the state government, Prince Enobong Uwah, said the three days event was for government to take stock, see the things it has done right and consolidate on them, and see the things it should do right and learn to do them right.
The keynote speaker, Professor Ubong Umoh, who spoke on “Communicating Development Narratives In Challenging Economy”, saw change as a necessity for progress, while highlighting the importance of effective communication in driving meaningful change and development, particularly in the face of economic challenges.
In their separate goodwill messages, the State chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Amos Etuk;MrUwemedimo Nwoko, SAN, on behalf of stakeholders; Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Traditional Rulers Council, Odidem Bassey Etim Edet, all lauded Eno for organising a thoughtful gathering that promotes citizens’ engagement and inclusivity.
Presentations were made by the Ibom Deep Seaport through the chairman, Ibom Deep Seaport Implementation Committee, Mrs. Mfon Usoro, Ministries of Lands and Town Planning; Works and Fire Service, as well as Economic Development.
Discussion about this post