The Government of Akwa Ibom State has said that it is irrevocably committed to transparency and accountability.
It said, it believes the people reserve the right to know all its efforts at developing the State.
The Governor of Akwa Ibom State Pastor Umo Bassey Eno stated this on Thursday, at the opening ceremony of the Senate Retreat on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, organised by the National Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies at the Four Points by Sharaton Hotel, Ikot Ekpene LGA.
He remarked that In line with this, his administration have made a full disclosure of the details of their budget implementation.
“This Retreat aligns with the policy of prudent management and transparency by our administration,” he boasted.
The Governor who was represented by his deputy Sen (Dr.) Akon Eyakenyi, hinted that their commitment to prudent management of scarce resources is already yielding fruits.
After she promised that Akwa Ibom people will not be kept in the dark on financial matters, Eyakenyi said. “We are undertaking people-oriented and infrastructural projects across the State.”
“We have decided to pay special attention to primary education because of its fundamental importance to subsequent efforts at human capital development.”
“We are building model schools with state-of-the-art medical,” she said. “Sports and other facilities will make learning attractive to our young ones.”
After she announced that As part of the package, they have made provisions for teachers to reside within the schools. She also mentioned that the pilot scheme -Christ the King Primary School, Wellington Bassey Way, Uyo is nearing completion.
With a gut feeling of having made a decision, Eyakenyi continued. “We are replicating this across the State, alongside our ongoing One project per LGA where we allow stakeholders make a choice of projects in line with their most pressing needs.”
Trying to point out some of the visible fruits of their commitment to prudent management, accountable leadership and budget implementation, she added. “We are adding the provision of free school bags, sandals, books and other learning tools to the existing free and compulsory education in the State.”
She expressed joy that the leadership and members of the 10th Senate, led by the Senate President, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio CON, have made the choice of Akwa Ibom as location for the event.
On his part, the Senate President, Sen Godswill Obot Akpabio CON, said that the Retreat would help deepen their knowledge on public financial management and enhance legislature-executive relationship.
According to him, the 10th Senate will continue to explore capacity-building opportunities that will equip the Senators with the wherewithal to make legislations that will bring development to the nation.
Truth Live News reports that those who attended the retreat Include the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Chief Wale Edun, Director General of the National Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, Senators, as well as management staff of the National Assembly.