Etinan Council has kicked off the process of producing a citizen’s budget for 2026 with a meeting of stakeholders, officials of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and members of the Fiscal Responsibility Board.
The meeting which took place at the Millennium Hall of the Council had in attendance both internal and external stakeholders as demanded by the Akwa Ibom Fiscal Responsibility Law.
Addressing a cross section of stakeholders that turned up for the meeting, the Chairman of Council, Hon Uko Umoh stressed the importance of the meeting as it gives the people opportunity to nominate projects to be captured in the 2026 budget of the local government area.
Hon Umoh stated that as elected officials of the council, they cannot sit at the comfort of their offices to do a budget for the people of the local government area without their inputs.
“As we begin the process of preparing 2026 budget, We cannot do it from the comfort of our offices at the council which explains our invitation to you. Your valuable contributions and input will be of great advantage to us for proper distribution of projects according to the needs of our communities.
“It is therefore very important that we gather you our esteemed stakeholders, brief you of our achievements in the past one year and collate your input for the new year” he stated.
Also speaking, Mr. Ofonime Effanga of the Akwa Ibom State Fiscal Responsibility Board, said the meeting of stakeholders before the preparation of budget for any fiscal year has the backing of the law.
He described the meeting as very strategic in the sense that it gives the people the right to own the budget when it is finally passed by the Legislative Council.
” If your project is captured in the budget, you own the budget and monitor its execution for the benefit of the people.”
Mr Effanga called on the people to prioritize their projects so that there will be no replication of projects in the same community.
“If there is an existing health centre in a community, instead of asking for a new one call for the equipping of the existing one. Same with other life touching projects”
An overview of the performance of the 2025 budget presented by the Director of Budget in Etinan Local Government Area, Mr. Inyenobong Ekot, shows that the Council embarked on many capital projects, completed same and handed them over to communities.
In her contribution, Professor Usen Ikpe appreciated the chairman for convening the meeting before the preparation of the 2026 budget.
She called for priority attention to be given to education and health sectors as well as leverage on the existing technology offered by Slawd Peters to create value chain in the agricultural sector.
“You are too proactive, take note of education, health and the value chain on our agricultural engagement to improve the lives of Etinan people”
Pastor Samuel Ikon, PhD, also supported calls for even distribution of amenities in villages.
According to the former representative of Etinan state/federal constituency, while the council takes on new projects, it is also important to look at existing ones that are no longer functioning and see how to resuscitate them as it is cheaper that way than building new ones.
” When you have opportunity to serve, do your best. Let us look at some of the projects done by other agencies and see how to fix them as it is cost effective and easier to fix than start a new one. All the projects listed as being done by the Council in the last one year have been done” he concluded.
Special Assistant to the Governor on People Living With Disabilities, Mr. Ubong Ikpe, thanked the chairman of Council for accommodating people with disabilities in his administration. “In the history of this local government, this is the first time people with disabilities are included in the scheme of things at the Council.”
The Paramount Ruler of Etinan, His Majesty, Edidem Aniefiok Monday Akpanobong, also joined voices to appreciate the Council for making the budget process participatory.
He called for strict adherence to the provisions of the budget at the implementation level as that will bring about development in our communities.
Goodwill message was delivered at the meeting by Miss Idorenyin Eyo of Policy Alert who commended the administration of Hon Uko Umoh in Etinan for making the budget process open to all citizens.
The meeting was attended by political stakeholders, community leaders, traditional rulers, clergymen, youth and women leaders, APC chapter Chairman, Leader of the Legislative Council and councilors, Secretary of Council and supervisors, Head of Local Government Service and Directors, Chief of staff to the chairman and NULGE.
