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Akwa Ibom State has been rated 3rd in the Country by BUDG IT in terms of Fiscal Sustainability Index.
According to BUDG IT – a Civic Organization, driven to make the Nigerian budget data understandable and accessible across every literacy, “the rating is an indicator that Akwa Ibom has the potential for growth”.
The Accountant General of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Uwem Andrew- Essien who disclosed this yesterday 12th November, 2019, while defending the 2020 budget of his office before the House Committee on Appropriation and Finance at the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly complex along Udo Udoma Avenue Uyo, said Akwa Ibom is also the 7th most healthiest State in internally generated revenue (IGR).
Pastor Andrew- Essien stated that in line with the dakkada philosophy and the 8 point agenda of the present administration, his office has budgeted the sum of 25,656,187,200 (25.6) billion naira for 2020 fiscal year, lamenting that the 2020 budget has been slashed by 50 percent against that of 2019, which stood at 50 billion naira .
The budget chief said as the office charged with the responsibility of ensuring efficient and effective management of public financial resources, for enhanced accountability and transparency, his office has successfully published and circulated to the relevant bodies the 2015, 2016 and 2017 financial statements of the Akwa Ibom State Government, while that of 2018 is before the Public Accounts Committee.
The Accountant General maintained that his office has recorded success in programmes and project implementation, expressing the optimism that with the current trend, more will be achieved with improved finding.
In his response, the Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation and Finance, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon. Uduak Ududo lauded the State Accountant General, Pastor Uwem Andrew-Essien on timely and regular payment of salaries and 2019 leave grants to civil servants in the State. Hon. Ududo who described the Accountant General as a man of integrity and transparency, said Governor Udom Emmanuel made no mistake in appointing him as the Accountant General.
The Chairman expressed satisfaction with the projects executed by the office of the Accountant General and encouraged him to keep up the good work. With the Accountant General on the budget defence, were management staffers of his office.
