On December 15, the N700 billion Appropriation Bill for the 2023 fiscal year was approved by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly. The bill was approved by the governor on Friday.
This sum consists of N355.995 billion in capital expenditures and N344.005 billion in recurring expenses.
Governor Udom Emmanuel signed the legislation into law during the State Executive Council meeting in December 2022, according to a statement made available to media in Uyo and signed by the commissioner for information and strategy, Mr Ini Ememobong.
On November 7, 2022, the governor recommended an N697.005 budget to the state assembly.
On Friday, during an expanded State Executive Council meeting held in the EXCO Chambers of Government House, Uyo, Governor Udom Emmanuel signed the 2023 Appropriations Bill after thanking the State Legislature, the Budget Office, and all pertinent organisations for their contributions to the bill's quick passage.
Emmanuel said that such efforts had resulted in the completion of more than 4,300 Inter-ministerial Direct Labour projects. He then made a commitment that the state's different agencies would continue to work together for the sake of the people.
“I thank the Speaker and Members of the State House of Assembly. Without their cooperation, we wouldn’t have gone as far as we have. I want to thank the Chairman and House Committee on Finance and Appropriation members.
“I need to thank the Permanent Secretaries for their support to Executive members, most especially the Director of Budget.
“Government is one. We are running the same government we are serving the same people, we have the same purpose. People must understand that whatever we are doing here is for everybody”.
In addition, the statement noted that the Executive Council had, during its deliberations following the budget signing ceremony, approved raising the retirement age for public school teachers from 60 to 65 and hiring 1,000 entry-level employees for the state government.
“The Governor sitting as Chairman-in-Council analysed the global macroeconomic trends and their implications on the microeconomic environment.
“He assured that he was unrelentingly committed to the execution of the Completion Agenda and charged all EXCO members to redouble their efforts in delivering their respective ministerial mandates, conscious of the little time available for the administration.
“Approval was granted for the remediation of the dump site at Uyo village road and landfill management. The Ministry of Environment and Solid Minerals and the Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency are to execute the task.
” Approval was granted for the award of contract for the construction of 12.8 km Ikot Ukpong Inuaenyen-Ikot Eteng Ndon-Atan Ikpe road with one 15M span bridge in Ikot Abasi LGA and the construction of 6.1km Shelter Afrique/Nnung Ette flood control tunnel in Uyo and Ibesikpo/Asutan local government areas.
“Also, Council approved the contract award for the construction of 9.0 KM Ikot Ada idem-Ediene Ikot Obio Imo-Ikot Oku Ikono road in Ibiono Ibom/Uyo Local Government areas.
“Approval for the extension of the retirement age for teachers in the employ of the government, from 60 to 65 years, was granted. The effective date is today, December 30, 2022. Approval was granted for the release of the sum of N675 million for the payment of the 2019 leave grant to teachers in government employment.
“Council equally granted approval for the employment of 1,000 junior staff into the state civil service, and the training of 2,000 youths in Maritime safety and surveillance, to be undertaken by the Ministry of Labour and Manpower Planning”, the statement noted.