Akwa Ibom Proposes N955bn Budget For 2025

Akwa Ibom State government has proposed N955 billion budget for the 2025 fiscal year and the augmentation of the 2024 appropriation with additional N82.4 billion.

This was the major decision reached at the State Executive Council (SEC), presided over by Governor Umo Eno, which was held at the Exco Chambers of Government House, Uyo, the state capital, on Tuesday night.

The supplementary estimates and the draft recurrent and capital budgets for 2025, was presented by the Commissioner for Finance, Nsikan Nkan.

Addressing journalists at the end of the meeting, the commissioner for Information, Comrade Iniobong Ememobong, explained that “the supplementary budget reflects savings of N8,922,513,000 and an augmentation of N82,414,029,890, incorporated into the 2024 Appropriation Bill.”

He said: “For the 2025 draft estimates, the proposed recurrent expenditure is N300 billion, representing a 14 percent decrease from last year, while the capital expenditure is pegged at N655 billion, reflecting a 13 percent increase as compared to 2024.

“The projected Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) is N80 billion, a 28 percent rise over the 2024 figure. The total budget estimate for 2025 stands at N955 billion.

“The Council approved both estimates and directed their submission to the State House of Assembly for legislative review and further action.”

To ensure quick delivery of projects, he said the governor, “has emphasised the need for all government officials and Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), to be proactive and deliver on their mandates with precision and urgency, and underscored the administration’s zero tolerance for mediocrity and failure to meet targets.”

Other resolutions reached by the Council included approval for the implementation of a 65-year retirement age for non-academic staff of state-owned tertiary institutions, effective January 1, 2025.
It also approved and awarded contracts for the construction of a 12.5km road spanning Ibesit-Ikot Oto-Ikot Ekpenyong-Ikot Akama-Itung-Ediene Attai-Ikot Ebak in Oruk Anam and Mkpat Enin local government areas.

Construction of a 2.7km road from Nto Obio Akpan-Ikot Obong-Urua Akpan, in Essien Udim LGA, and a 2km road from Ikot Uso-Udo Atan-Nto Obodem Mbiaso in Ikot Ekpene LGA; the construction of a 10.9km road with two 40m-span bridges spanning NSAID’s Use-Use Ikot Amama-Ibiaku Ikot Erica-Itong Nkwot Edem Edet in Ibiono Ibom and Ikono LGAs.

The Council also approved the re-award of the 21.5km Ikot Ayan Ediene-Ikot Nita-Urua Naira-Ikot Nseyen-Nkwot-Nnung Ukim road, including a 45m-span bridge, in Ikono LGA; construction of a 2km access road to the School of Health Technology in Etinan LGA;
construction of a 7.7km road, including the State Housing Road with spur, Ikot Obiokpon/Ibong Road with spur, and Mount Zion Road with spurs in Ikot Ekpene LGA.