The Coordinator of a Civil Society Organisation in Akwa Ibom Social Action Anti-corruption Network, ANN Udont has tasked lawmakers in the state to ensure
proper over sighting of budget implementations to address concerns of
poor budget performance in the state.
She said the situation where the legislature approves budgetary figures annually without a corresponding oversight on how such appropriation should be implemented leaves much to be desired adding that such reduces it to mere ritual that does not benefit all.
Udonte, in a statement in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State called on the lawmakers
to ensure closer scrutiny of the 2020 budget and channel resources to
address critical areas of needs in the state in a balanced manner.
The 2020 budget as presented by Governor Udom Emmanuel, has a total of
N597.800 billion made of N369.642 billion for capital expenditure,
N111.225 billion for recurrent expenditure and N116.933 billion for
Consolidated Revenue Fund Charges, representing a decrease of
N75.185billion from its 2019 budgetary provisions of N672.985
billion.
But the group lamented that the budget, on the pages of papers, appears to have articulated the development aspirations of the state and added that previous experiences does not create room for such optimism.
The statement reads in part, ”The 2020 budget, therefore, should seize
some remarkable changes and departure from the typically abysmal budget performance of the past. In view of this, the state lawmakers should therefore critically and closely scrutinize the proposed appropriation and channel resources in a balanced manner to critical
areas that need attention particularly the education and the health sector.
“The state lawmakers should also pay adequate attention to appropriation for the infrastructural sector as this is important in
addressing challenges with employment and youth development in the state
“It is equally important that the lawmakers rise effectively to the task of oversight in budget implementation. A situation whereby the lawmakers conform themselves to merely approving budgetary figures annually without corresponding interest and oversight on how such
appropriations are implemented reduces it to a mere ritual that does not bring any meaningful interest to bear in the life of the average Akwa Ibom citizen”
She said findings revealed that the 2019 budget, performed far below expectation particularly in the social and the infrastructural sector including the education sector, adding many schools where money were appropriated are still in very poor conditions.
She added, “According to the budget monitoring findings of the Niger
Delta Citizens budget platform, the educational sector has at best
performed only 43% as its findings show that many schools that were
severely dilapidated are still in dyig need of rehabilitation and did
not receive any meaningful attention from the 2019 budget.
“A specific example includes the Nyong Essien Model Secondary School
in Ishiet Ekim Uruan L.G.A and Asutan Ekpe Comprehensive Secondary
School, Okop Ndua Erong Ibesiko Asutan L.G.A.
“These schools which serve as the sole educational institutions in
their communities have been dilapidated and abandoned for years with school children studying in substandard conditions including,
buildings without roofs, shabby classrooms, etc.
“This is despite the commitment or pledge by the state government to
advance the education fortunes of the people of the state. A similar
situation also abounds in the health sector as well as the critical
infrastructure sector.”
