TheNewsDesk
2nd December, 2023
The proposed total budget estimate of N845.632 billion for the 2024 financial year, presented by the Akwa Ibom State governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has been commended as futuristic and prudently intended to ensure tangible growth and expansion of the socio-economic life of the people of the state.
The commendation was made during a programme tagged: EARCOM Hour, monitored on Premium 89.9 FM, Abak, at the weekend, during the interview segment of the programme with commissioners on the governing board of the commission, including Sir Ubong Ekefre, Mr Goodnews Ediene and Mr Michael Isang.
Dissecting the budget, christened: ‘Arise Budget for Growth and Expansion’, Ekefre specifically lauded the larger allocation of N492.72 billion for capital expenditure over the N352.92 billion for recurrent expenditure, explaining that this simply means that the budget is deliberately futuristic.
Ekefre added that the slant increase in capital expenditure will grow the industrial base of the state, widen the agro-allied industries for sufficiency in food production, expand and maintain infrastructure and services in health care delivery, while stimulating relevant key sectors of the state economy.
On his part, Ediene tasked citizens to support the vision of Governor Eno by not paying taxes, plugging leakages in the system, abhorrence of sharp practices, sabotage, greed and corruption which are mindset and attitudinal traits that will ensure the projected 3.7 percent increase in revenue projection for 2024 needed to fund the budget is realised, harping that this would only become reality if the internally generated revenue (IGR) capacity is improved upon.
Speaking on strategies for the implementation of the budget in a bid to realise the objectives of government, Isang stressed Governor Eno’s push to partner with foreign investors, strengthen revenue generation base of the state, investment in blue economy, tourism and eliminating wastages in the system.
