By Samuel Ogenyi, Uyo
Akwa Ibom State Government is yet to implement the recommendations of the post coronavirus economic reconstruction committee several months after the report was submitted, an investigation has revealed.
Apart from lack of political will, checks revealed suspected general apathy on the part of the state government as it continue to grapple with various uncompleted projects.
The post COVID-19 committee headed by Prof. Akpan EKpo, a professor of Economics and one-time Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo had recommended among others the setting up of a reserve fund by the state government.
It also recommended that the state government should focus on agriculture, industry and service as the mainstay of the economy in the post COVID-19 era instead of depending on oil as its main source of revenue.
Similarly, the committee recommended much emphasis on industrialisation, job creation, recapitalisation of the cash- strapped Akwa Savings and loan Ltd., establishment of independent data generation institution and the setting up of an Economic Advisory council.
But speaking in an interview, the Executive Director of Policy Alert, a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) Tjah Bolton-Akpan expressed dismay that though the committee had failed to make full copies of the recommendations available to members, yet the key recommendations therein are long overdue for implementation.
Bolton-Akpan said the establishment of reserve fund in the State is very important as the State is one of the highest earners in terms of oil derivations adding that it would save the State from the volatility associated with oil price at the international level.
“We have a lot of oil revenues coming into the State, government can benchmark below that of the federal government and bring out certain percentage as its savings for the future. It is important that the state government considers having flexible oil benchmark
“The question is how would the fund be managed? The committee did not make such provisions. We have not set our eyes on this important report, this should be on the State government’s website so that citizens can engage it, critique it and add value to it in terms of contributions.
“Establishment of reserve fund is good but the details of how it would be managed was not provided.” He said.
On industrialisation of the State, he said the State government should first of all declare its equity share in the existing industries in the State and from time to time update the people of the State on the performance of the industries.
Bolton-Akpan also said the establishment of independent data generation institution as recommended is crucial as it would save the State from future embarrassment and help in planning.
According to him, if the State government had had its independent data institution it would have confidently challenged the report of the National Bureau of Statistics where the State is rated the second in unemployment with facts and figures.
Bolton-Akpan who disclosed that the State has a lot to gain from donor agencies if it has its data institution , recalled that a bill for Akwa Ibom State bureau of statistics was passed sometime in Governor Udom Emmanuel’s first tenure but was never assented to and therefore called on the Executive to resend the bill to the State House of Assembly.
“When you don’t have data to work with, you approach governance blindly. The State government needs to set up a statistical agency and a law needed to be enacted to create that agency.” He said.
On the recapitalisation of the State’s financial institution, Akwa savings and loans, Bolton-Akpan warned that corporate governance should be strengthened and not to be politicized as that was the suspected cause of the liquidation of the bank in the first place.
