By Ogenyi Ogenyi,Uyo
Akwa Ibom State Executive Council yesterday endorsed a draft budget estimate of N840,632,409,990 budget proposal presented by Finance Commissioner, Mr Linus Nkan for the 2024 fiscal year.
The estimate which is part of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework comprised of N352,737,281,810 recurrent expenditure and N487,895,128,180 capital estimates.
A statement from the commissioner for information, Comrade Ini Ememobong made available to newsmen in Uyo at the end of their meeting also said that the council approved the payment of one month basic salary to civil servants as Christmas bonus while the new Political Adviser to the Governor was formally admittted into the Council.
“HC-Finance presented the draft recurrent and capital estimates for the State Government for the year 2024, with the policy thrust of supporting the execution of the ARISE Agenda.
“The total recurrent estimate is N352,737,281,810, while Capital estimates stand at N487,895,128,180 bringing the total budget to N840,632,409,990. The budget was subjected to detailed deliberation and thereafter was adopted by motion duly moved and seconded.
“The meeting took a break and later reconvened with only Commissioners and Special Adviser. The Political Adviser to the Governor, Dr. Godwin Ntukudeh was admitted into the meeting as a member in attendance.
“The Governor informed the EXCO that an additional one-month basic salary will be paid to civil servants in December, for their Christmas break.” It said.
Council also frowned at the Illegal reopening of the Chinese company Golden Tripod Company whose operations have constituted a health hazard to residents of Uyo and approved its permanent closure but with alternative land to be allocated to them at the Industrial Estate at Itam.
The statement further stated that approval was also given to the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to enforce the law mandating all Principal Officers of Local Government Areas to reside within their Council Area.
It also mandated the commissioner of Water Resources & Sanitation to ensure water works within Uyo metropolis & select rural areas are reactivated and made functional.
The meeting also reviewed software applications to be deployed in the execution of Geographic Information Systems (AKWAGIS), payment of bursary awards to undergraduates and project monitoring and evaluation.
“The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on ICT, Dr. Frank Ekpenyong presented the software applications to be deployed in the execution of Geographic Information Systems (AKWAGIS), payment of busary awards to undergraduates and project monitoring and evaluation.
“Ekpeyong promised that the apps would help in the efficient administration of the various programmes to which they will be applied. The Governor charged the SSA to ensure that technology is used to plug all loopholes of financial leakages within the governance system.” The statement concluded.
