The year 2021 budget estimates of Akwa Ibom State government has been received and considered by the State Executive Council.
Commissioner for information and strategy, Comrade Ini Ememobong, disclosed this while briefing Government House correspondents at the end of an enlarged State Executive Council meeting held on Monday, October 12, 2020 at the Exco Chamber, Government House, Uyo, and presided over by the state governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel.
Comrade Ememobong said that the policy thrust of the 2021 budget proposal focuses on improving on the internally generated revenue (IGR), to avoid over-dependence on federation allocation.
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He explained that the budget aligns completely with the completion agenda of the administration with emphasis on human capital development, quality health care, aviation and rural community developments as well as industrialization drive.
He said, “Today in Exco meeting presided over by His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel, with permanent secretaries and heads of extra-ministerial departments in attendance, we considered the budget estimates as presented by the commissioner for finance, Mr Linus Nkan, and the policy thrust of that budget has to do with improving on the internally generated revenue so that we can reduce over-dependence on the federal allocation”.
Comrade Ememobong expressed optimism that the budget, when passed by the State House of Assembly, will address human capacity development, aviation and rural development as encapsulated in the completion agenda.
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“The budget also aligned completely with the completion agenda where issues on education, human capacity development, aviation development, rural community development and all sectors of the completion agenda took precedence”, he stated.
The information helmsman, who was flanked by commissioner for finance, Mr Nkan, and his local government and chieftaincy affairs counterpart, Mr Frank Archibong, added that the council deliberated on amendments to be made on the laws establishing the State College of Education to enhance excellence and productivity in the institution as well as assess reports on schools resumption and status updates on the Covid-19 pandemic.
He disclosed that the Executive Council also received updates on the investments from the State Investment Corporation as well as approved the taking over of Community Secondary Commercial School, Oduk, Ikono Local Government Area, explaining that the takeover was premised on government decision to relieve communities of the burden of running schools and for the overall benefit of the students.
