… Succeeds In The Arrest Of Wastages In Public Procurement
… Pays N78bn Out Of N90bn Backlog Of Gratuities
By Ossom Asaka
UYO
More accolades have continued to trail the Akwa Ibom State governor, Pastor Umo Eno, over his recent decoration as the Governor of the Year 2025 by the Nigerian Governor’s forum, NGF.
Similarly, the governor has received all round commendations from across stakeholders for successfully implementing the ARISE Agenda blueprint which has so far birthed positive socio-economic impacts in the lives of the people of the State.
Eno was presented the NGF Governor of the Year 2025 award by the Director General Nigeria Governor’s Forum, Dr Abdulateef Shitu, during the recent public presentation of the socio economic impact of the ARISE Agenda in two years held at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo on Thursday.
The Director General of the NGF who was represented on the occasion by Prof Abba Gambo lauded Governor Eno for his sterling leadership qualities citing his strides in all facets of governance as reasons behind his choice by the NGF for the prestigious award.
In their various reactions to the award, individuals, groups and cooperate institutions have congratulated Gov Eno for the people-oriented style of governance and inclusivity which he has brought to bear in the State noting that he truly deserves the NGF award.
The chairman of Uyo Local Government Area who also doubles as Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), in the state, Dr Uwemedimo Udo described the award on the governor as well deserved honour noting that the governor’s visionary leadership, people-oriented governance and commitment to grassroots development has to a great extent, transformed many lives across Akwa Ibom.
Udo congratulated Governor Eno for being found worthy for the award and prayed God to continue to protect and lead the governor aright for more development to thrive in the state.
He urged the people of the State to also continue in their support for the governor expressing optimism that the present administration will leave behind lasting legacies for the state.
The chairman of Ika Local Government Area, Barr. Utibe Nwoko, in his goodwill message, described the award as a “resounding affirmation of the governor’s sterling leadership, unwavering integrity and people-centric governance”.
Nwoko applauded Governor Eno for his commitment to infrastructural development and good governance, noting that the Eno-led administration has transformed Akwa Ibom to a model for good governance and quality infrasture.
He maintained that the governor’s recognition by the Nigerian Governor’s Forum was a clear testimony of the acceptability and admiration that Governor is currently enjoying from other governors in the country.
“On behalf of the people of Ika Local Government Area, I extend our congratulations to Governor Eno on this well-deserved national honour. This award is a proof that integrity, vision and compassion still have a place in public office.
“May this award inspire you further and may God grant you the wisdom, strength and good health to lead our state to greater height”. Nwoko stated.
He urged Akwa Ibom people to continue to show more support to the Governor and his administration even as he also prayed the governor to continue to carry the people along for more achievements to be recorded in the state.
Dr Ubon Obonguko, a head of department in the Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, described the award as a proof of the popularity that Governor Eno and Akwa Ibom are currently enjoying in the committee of states in the country, noting that the Governor Eno-led administration has created significant development in the grassroots areas in the State.
Obonguko who expressed satisfaction with the governor’s intervention in both the education and health sectors, sued for more interventions in other sectors, adding that the state and its people will benefit tremendously from the ongoing human capital and entrepreneurship drive.
He prayed God to continue to protect the governor and also imbue him with wisdom for him to lead the state well.
With the presentation of the NGF award on Gov. Eno also came commendations from the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Abubaka Bagudu, who lauded the Akwa Ibom governor for subjecting his administration to public scrutiny.
Bagudu noted that Akwa Ibom was unique for being very accommodating and peaceful, adding that with the laudable pace of development, the state is one of the component states that will help his ministry achieve the Trillion Dollar economy challenge by President Bola Tinubu.
Reacting to the award, Gov. Eno who said the honour came to him as a surprise, thanked the NGF for recognizing his humble efforts at providing good governance for his people even as he promised to do more so as to take the state and its people to greater heights.
“One of the things I did when I came into office was to set up an internal evaluation team domiciled in my office to help streamline and eliminate wastage that has remained one of the areas where governments have always overspent.
“Through the great work this team has done, we have saved the State billions of Naira in contracts procurement. We have refined policies and implementation plans and we have set up procurement laws that have helped up steadily execute our procurement, Eno stated.
On the backlog of gratuities, Gov. Eno opined, “we’re paying backlogs of gratuities from where we met them and these gratuities date back to 2012.
“Today, I am glad to report that we have already paid N78 billion out of the N90 billion backlog. We’ re steadily bringing the state back to speed, we’re also providing funds for our retirees to access medical care and live the kind of life they had envisioned, even in these hard times”, Eno stated.
Earlier in a paper presentation on the implementation of ARISE Agenda in the State on the theme, “Socio-economic Impact of the ARISE Agenda,” a University don, and one-time commissioner for youths and sports in the State, Professor Christopher Ekong, while dissecting the various thematic areas of the ARISE Agenda, said the governance blueprint has witnessed tremendous level of accomplishment in the last two years of its implementation and has surpassed expectations as indicated in the MTEF document of the State.
Ekong was of the opinion and believe that if Akwa Ibom government sustains its abiding faith in fiscal responsibility and sagacity, it would soon emerge as the economic pride of the Nigerian federation.
Setting the tone for the event, the secretary to the State government, Prince Enobong Uwah, said the ARISE Agenda which has 17 aspirations, is not a mere slogan but a governing philosophy, and a bold and deliberate road map anchored on conviction and clarity of purpose.
Uwah noted that the gathering was not just a moment to report but to reflect, introspect, pause, measure, and ask the hard questions that strengthens institutions and sharpens focus, lauding the governor for initiating the bold exercise which, he maintained, takes true leadership to open its books halfway, weigh itself on the scale and invite others to take a look, listen and speak over its direction.
The Statistician General of the Federation, who was represented by Chief Austen Anyakorah, Director, Corporate Planning and Statistical Coordination, felicitated with Governor Eno for hosting the evaluation event, and assured that the Bureau will collaborate and partner the State government to validate the numbers and to compile the State GDP and consumer pricing indices.
Speaking separately at the event, the panelists, including Professor Akpan Ekpo, Nancy Illoh and Terry Ikumi as well as Dr. Ruben Abati, commended the governor for his transparency, and for hosting the event for public scrutiny and contribution.
They described the ARISE Agenda as an audacious and robust economic development blueprint, and advised that more efforts be made in areas of macro economics and setting out development plans for a specific time frame.
Presentations were also made on the Next steps and new projects delivery plan by the chief delivery advisor, Mr Aniefiok Johnson, and on Akwa Ibom State Investment Outlook by the executive director, Akwa Ibom Investment Corporation (AKICORP), Pastor Imoabasi Jacob.
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