By Bassey Nkponam
UYO
The Akwa Ibom governor has identified fiscal discipline and revenue diversification as being critical for economic development.
Pastor Umo Eno, who stated this, Wednesday, while delivering a lecture on the theme, “Leading Economic Development in Sub-Nationals of the Nigerian Federation: The ARISE Agenda,” at a one-day public lecture organised by the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Uyo, which took place at the 1000-seater TETFUND auditorium, at the main campus of the institution, stressed the need for states and local governments to embrace fiscal discipline and revenue diversification to achieve sustainable development.
Eno noted that Nigeria’s federal structure places significant responsibility for development on its subnational entities – states and local governments – and that the uneven pace of socio-economic growth across the country reflects a persistent over-reliance on the federal government and a lack of strategic, autonomous development planning by subnational governments.
This, he noted, has contributed to widespread underdevelopment, unemployment, poor infrastructure, and poverty in many parts of the federation, adding that Akwa Ibom State’s ARISE Agenda represents a potentially transformative model of localised governance and economic planning which seeks to chart a sustainable development path through deliberate investments in agriculture, rural development, infrastructure, security and education.
Eno said the extent to which such a model can be effectively implemented and scaled remains under-explored, as State and local governments play a vital role in policy implementation, investment promotion and infrastructural development.
The governor pointed out that building the economic structures of the subnational was sine-qua-non for the development of the federation, noting that in Nigeria, many of the sub-national entities struggle with inadequate revenue occasioned by weak revenue generation base, weak governance frameworks and over dependence on federal allocations.
To address these issues, Eno said a paradigm shift that emphasises a comprehensive and intentional development planning aimed at providing the necessary and sufficient conditions for inclusive growth and economic development which is indicated in self-sufficiency, economic diversification and good governance, is required.
He maintained that to ensure the success of economic development in sub-nationals, policy makers must develop action plans before implementation, strengthen governance and institutional capacity, enhance internally generated revenue (IGR) to reduce reliance on federal allocations, and promote regional economic cooperation and trade among states.
He noted that the ARISE Agenda was borne out of the desire to grow the economy while developing abundant human resources in the State, focuses on eight lofty goals including poverty reduction, job creation, price stability, sustainable economic growth, improved standard of living, environmental sustainability, highly educated, healthy and skilled people, as well as the security of lives and property.
Eno explained that the ARISE Agenda, a flagship economic blueprint that guides his administration’s development efforts, is an acronym for five-group aspirations, namely, Agricultural Revolution, Tourism Development and Environmental Management; Rural Development, Women and Youth Empowerment; Infrastructural Maintenance and Advancement; Security Management, Sound Educational and Health Sector Management; and Economic, Industrial and Social Advancement.
He said that beyond the five key aspirations, the ARISE Agenda chooses to deploy a holistic approach to development by paying close attention to the development of some existing and emerging sectors of the economy such as agriculture, healthcare, education, infrastructure, women empowerment, youth empowerment and sports, information and communications technology, environment, housing, transportation, commerce, trade and industry, oil and gas, solid minerals, rural development, tourism, security, good governance, and public sector development.
The governor stated that the ARISE Agenda aligns with global and national development frameworks, including the United Nations 2030 Global Development Agenda; the Common African Position on Post-2015 Development; Africa’s Agenda 2063; Nigeria’s National Development Plan (2021-2025); and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in many respects, adding that the frameworks emphasise knowledge-driven, people-centric, and sustainable economic development – the very essence of the ARISE Agenda.
He recalled that since the inception of his administration, wastages in government have been minimised, adding that the government is determined to expand its revenue base by digitalisation of government operations.
He made known plans of government to launch AKWAGIS, a digital platform where government will be collecting ground rent, currently in the region of N16 billion, adding that through the platform, government will be able to seamlessly offer Certificates of Occupancy, which would help attract businesses to the State.
Eno said government was also investing heavily in the tourism sector that has been variously described as the “New Black Gold”, from agricultural tourism, through the Ibom Model Farm, to medical tourism, with the planned Ibom International Medical Centre – a 200-bed hospital that will come with 24 different departments under one roof, adding that the hospital, once completed, will compare to any such facility anywhere in the world.
According to him, the ARISE Resort billed for commissioning in the first half of the year, the International Conference Centre, the Ibom Tropicana Hotel, which is poised to complete, will signpost the State’s ascendancy as the tourism hub of the nation and bring in billions of Naira in revenue.
Eno said his administration remains committed to the growth and expansion of Ibom Air and that work is ongoing in the Aviation Village as part of government investments in the aviation eco- system.
The governor stated that government was committed to the human capital development of people which, he noted, has been acknowledged by the federal government and the World Bank, leading to the launch of the Human Capital Development Strategic Plan by the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima.
Eno furthered that his administration has achieved a success rate of 3.5 per cent out of school children, against the national average of 25.6 per cent, describing the feat as truly remarkable.
The state chief executive officer stated that government was positioning the State for growth beyond oil by the strategic investments in tourism and human capital development.
He appreciated the crafters of the ARISE Agenda and expressed his determination to go the extra mile to further development in the State, while urging policy makers, corporate bodies, the academia, and citizens to join hands with him in the journey towards a prosperous, self-reliant, and globally competitive sub-national economy.
Eno encouraged private sector-led development through investment incentives, and focus on collaboration rather than conflicts.
In his remarks, the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, lauded the governor for his inclusive leadership disposition which, he said, has engendered unprecedented peace and security in the State.
Akpabio, who was represented by the chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC), Dr Saviour Enyiekere, also commended Eno for his collaboration with the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led federal government, and assured him of the support of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State to ensure the governor’s second term victory in 2027.
Chairman on the occasion, Professor Emeritus, Akpan Hogan Ekpo; the UNIUYO vice chancellor, Professor Nyaudoh Ndaeyo and the dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Professor Christopher Ekong, as well as the dean of the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Professor Peter Esuh, appreciated the governor for accepting to share his thoughts through the public lecture, noting that the ARISE Agenda was a comprehensive document that can drive development in the State and other sub-nationals.
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