Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has assented to a N456.2 billion budget for the 2021 fiscal year, adding that all projects initiated by his administration will be completed.
This follows a N20.5 billion augmentation to the N435.6 billion proposal presented by the governor to the state House of Assembly on Tuesday, October 20 before passage on Tuesday, December 8.
A statement issued by the Akwa Ibom State government indicates that the augmentation was derived from an addition of N6.1 billion to the proposed N158.4 billion in the recurrent and 14.4 billion to the proposed 226.9 billion in the capital estimates presented earlier.
The governor gave assent to the appropriation bill in an enlarged executive council meeting on Thursday, December 10 at Government House, Uyo.
Governor Emmanuel also assured the people of the state that their expectations will be met, expressing satisfaction with the timeliness in state’s budgetary process in accordance with all World Bank deadlines.
He thanked the leadership and members of the House of Assembly, especially the House committee on appropriation and finance for their hard work to avail the state with the final appropriation bill for 2021 and their cooperation in setting an economic tone for the state.
He said: “I want to thank you and your entire leadership because I’ve seen the sincerity in your heart to join hands so that we can get things done. I also want to use this opportunity to reassure you that as long as this administration is concerned, all our projects will be completed.”
Fielding questions with pressmen after the session, the Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation and Finance, Rt. Hon. Uduak Odudoh, said the augmentation became necessary following certain dynamics informed by the post-COVID situation and EndSARS protests. He also added that there was a need to review the proposals presented by heads of some ministries, departments, and agencies to accommodate the restoration of AKBC facilities, furnishing of the traditional rulers’ complex, and other needs.
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