Akwa Ibom presents N462bn budget for approval

Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State has presented a budgetary estimate of N462 billion for 2015 financial year to the state House of Assembly for deliberations and approval.
This is against N498.54 billion approved for  2014, made up of N74.24 billion for recurrent expenditure, N333 billion for capital expenditure while consolidated revenue fund charges was N91.30 billion.

A breakdown of 2015 budget tagged: Budget of Actualisation and Continuity shows that recurrent expenditure is given N94.74 billion, capital expenditure has N253 billion, while consolidated revenue fund charges is allocated N114.26 billion.

Akpabio said that the budget would seek to ensure sustainable development following the achievements recorded by his administration since 2007.

“The 2015 proposed budget seeks to build on the successes and achievements recorded so far. We intend to complete ongoing projects and use the budget proposals to build a strong bridge between my administration and the incoming administration such that the uncommon transformation, which we have so energetically pursued, will be sustained, so that our past labours will not be in vain.

“The budget would touch all sections of infrastructures and security in the state. It will develop strategic plans for the development of the state, create more jobs for the teeming youths, the use of direct labour and improved human capacity, promote women empowerment and improve the education standard of every Akwa Ibom child, among others,” he said.

“There is nothing I can say here which can be more precious than what you have done here. When the story of the Uncommon Transformation of our state will be properly documented on the petals of our history, it would be noted that this House was the factory we brought our ideas to incubation and production,” he said.

According to him, “it was here we gave our ideas wings to fly. It was here that the bird of uncommon transformation soared to heights of acclaim. As you know, it takes two wings to fly and the two wings in this case were the Executive wing and the Legislative wing. Akwa Ibom State appreciates your patriotism and effective representation.

“Let me pay special tribute to the Hon. Speaker, Rt. Hon. Sam Ikon and the leadership of this great House for providing vision, purpose, direction and motivation for developmental legislation in this Chamber. We appreciate all members of this great Assembly for lending their hands and souls to the struggle to transform our state.

“The last seven and a half years have been times of dramatic transformation and you have all risen to every challenge of making our social fabric stronger, our people healthier, our society safer and more prosperous, and providing state-of-the-art infrastructures for all Akwa Ibom people and foreign investors who need superb investment destination.”

 

ANIEFIOK UDONQUAK