Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Sir Charles Udoh, has commended the State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, for setting-up the Akwa Ibom Infrastructure and Assets Management and Maintenance Agency, AKIAMMA, expressing the hope that, it will curtail rots and wastage in government.
Sir Charles Udoh gave the commendation Thursday in Uyo, while playing host to the Executives and Board members of the Agency, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office.
Receiving the team, the Tourism Commissioner stated with delight that the Agency has hit the ground running especially with the enormous task saddled on it and the high expectation of the Governor in the protection and preservation of government Infrastructures and Assets in all government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs as well as in all public facilities.
He decried the high level of rots and wastage in government facilities, ranging from broken water pipes and electricity cables, to leakages of roofs of MDAs at the Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat Complex, molds on walls of offices, unserviceable government vehicles shattered around in different mechanic workshops and abandoned government utilities, across the State, among others.
He listed the challenges likely to confront the Agency while handling Health, Safety and Environment, HSE, issues, of government workers, to include: lack of fire extinguishers and fire fighting equipment in different MDAs, insufficient office spaces in some MDAs, poor attitude and perception of some workers,
Udoh however expressed with optimism that, with the caliber of professionals appointed into the Agency, they will be able to navigate through the banana peels littering on their path to achieving their set goals.
He pledged his Ministry’s support and cooperation to the Agency for the task ahead and urged members to be resilient in pushing forward their goals and objectives as there are often stiff resistance to change.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Akwa Ibom Infrastructure and Assets Management and Maintenance Agency, Elder Udo Sam Umoatan, had emphasised on the importance of keeping a register of the State’s Assets, noting that, it is the Agency’s responsibility to profile and document the state’s Infrastructure and assets for ease of management and maintenance.
Elder Umoatan disclosed that, workers are critical assets of government which must be properly managed under the Agency’s SHE Department adding that, the Agency will inherit both assets and liabilities of government’s Infrastructures, facilities and utilities.
He reiterated that, the objective of AKIAMMA is to establish a centralized system that will provide a clear overview of each asset, detailing the necessary actions for their management and maintenance.
Stressing that the assets register would enable government to make informed decisions about the status of its assets, Elder Umotan said, the ultimate goal of the Agency is to expand the revenue base of government and reduce maintenance costs by ensuring that all state-owned assets are managed effectively with proper accountability,
In her remarks, Prof. (Mrs.) Comfort Etok, a board member of AKIAMMA and Director of Health, Safety and Environment (HSE), said that the Agency was interested in the health and safety of workers in the State, adding that the Agency has been given the mandate to educate workers on proper sitting positions, how to generate and manage wastes as well as emergency preparedness in the office in the case of fire outbreak, through fire extinguishing drills and medical emergency drills, starting with the maintenance with first aid box.
Prof. Etok intimated that, the Governor has approved trainers for the training of safety officers, who will be sent to various MDAs to establish Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) units to ensure the well-being of workers in the state government.
The meeting which featured the presentation of Asset capturing document to the Tourism Commissioner by the Chairman of the Agency, had in attendance the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Grace Akpan, the Secretary/Legal Adviser of the Agency, Barr. Victor Bob, Board members of the Agency and Directors of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, among others.
