Capital Project: Local Government & Chieftaincy Affairs Ministry, Fiscal Responsibility Board Applaud Uko Umoh
The Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and the Fiscal Responsibility Board have jointly commended the Executive Chairman of Etinan Local Government Area, Honourable Uko Umoh for executing capital projects in the 2024 Appropriation Act.
The supervising Ministry also commended the local government boss for being the second in the state to key into the fiscal transformation in the budget process.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barr. Bassey Ekanem, stated this when he led a team to a stakeholders’ meeting towards the preparation of the 2025 budget for Etinan Local Government.
The Permanent Secretary represented at the meeting by the Director of Inspectorate,Mrs Ime Akpan also informed stakeholders that the budget process has changed which is the reason the Ministry is taking the message to the local government areas.
According to her, the era where budget were prepared by few officials of the council is gone as the budget process must involve the people using the bottom to top approach.
“That process often resulted in abandonment and vandalisation of government projects because the people were not involved in the process”.
She disclosed that Akwa Ibom state is now leading in the fiscal responsibility, pointing out that the event of the day has the full backing of law.
Also speaking on the new development in the budget process, Barr Nsikak Ekong of the Fiscal Responsibility Board said the new process will enhance accountability, transparency,accessibility and appraisal of the local government budget.
Barr. Ekong said the 1999 constitution as amended in section 121 empowers the legislative arm to look into the budget while the fiscal responsibility law of Akwa Ibom in section 21 sub section 12 makes it mandatory for a budget to pass through popular participation.
He listed the benefits of popular participation to include giving everyone a sense of belonging, facilitate intervention, prioritize government projects, offer government opportunity to explain budget to the people as well as involve citizens at every stage of government project. “Above all this project brings government closer to the people through interaction”
Earlier in a welcome address, the Executive Chairman of Etinan Local Government Area, Honourable Uko Umoh, had highlighted capital projects executed by the local government in the 2024 fiscal year.
The projects include free medical outreach,grading of rural roads, purchase of JAMB forms for 150 students, cultivation of farms, restoration of electricity to the council Secretariat with provision of an electric transformer at Iman Road, Ikot Akpabio and Mbioto Ekpene Ituen, reactivation of moribund water projects in five communities and provision of new one within the council Secretariat.
Represented by the Vice Chairman, Hon Imaobong Michael,the council boss listed areas of interest in the 2025 budget to include Human capital development,Access to quality health care, youth empowerment and entrepreneurship, social welfare and support to the vulnerable as well as infrastructural development.
High point of the meeting was the presentation of areas of need to be captured in the 2025 budget by the 12 councilors to the directorate of PRS.
The stakeholders meeting was attended by the leader of the legislative council, Honourable Ekerete Umoh, together with the 11 councilors, secretary of the council Hon Idorenyin Okon Udo, the Local Government Head of Service,Mrs Mercy Ntekim and management staff of the council.
Present at the stakeholders meeting include, Rt Hon Samuel Ikon, Dr. Okon Emah, Dr Ifreke Ekpa, Dr. Cosmos Udofot, Obong Patrick Udofia, Mr Ofonbuk Nelson, Dr Adia Archibong Afia,Dr Aniefon Akpabio, Mrs Eseme Essien, the Chief of Staff to the Executive Chairman Pastor Ubong Inyang and the Press Secretary to the chairman of Council, Otobong Nsekpong.
