CSO Fears Political Hijack Of A’Ibom’s N31bn Empowerment Fund

A civil society organisation, the Centre for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN), has lauded the Akwa Ibom State Government for approving a N31 billion grant for small and medium enterprise (SME) owners to shore up their investments and stay afloat amid socio-economic uncertainties in the country.

However, it expressed fears that the empowerment grant could be politicised and hijacked by politicians and their associates, calling on those saddled with the disbursement to imbibe equity, transparency, fairness and good conscience in the sharing formula.

LEADERSHIP Sunday recalls that Governor Umo Eno, during the July State Executive Council (SEC) meeting at the Government House, Uyo, approved the amount as a business lifeline for no fewer than 165,912 SME owners across the 31 local government areas.

In a communiqué signed by the Executive Director, Otuekong Franklin Isong, and the Secretary for Research and Documentation, Etimbuk Ekpenyong, the rights group expressed delight and commended the governor for the gesture but stressed the need for proper guidance in the cash distribution process.

“CHRAN has taken note of the recent approval by the Akwa Ibom State Executive Council of the sum of N31 billion for the implementation of economic empowerment programmes targeting youths, women, traders, farmers, transport operators, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across the 31 LGAs, at N1 billion each.

“We acknowledge that the programme, comprising youth skills acquisition and starter packs, women’s cooperative business support, traders’ business grants, agricultural support and farm inputs, SME development, and a transport empowerment scheme, is a potentially impactful intervention capable of promoting entrepreneurship, reducing poverty, and driving inclusive economic development for an estimated 165,912 beneficiaries across the state.

“However, CHRAN wishes to state unequivocally, and place on record, that this intervention is funded with public funds belonging to the people of Akwa Ibom State.

“As such, its implementation should be guided strictly by the principles of transparency, fairness, equity, and accountability, devoid of any partisan considerations,” the communiqué stated.

The CSO warned that the programme must not, under any guise, be used as an instrument for rewarding party loyalists, settling political scores, or consolidating political patronage networks.

It maintained that access to the benefits of this intervention must not be conditioned on party membership, political affiliation, or loyalty to any individual or group.

The organisation, however, advocated that the state government, through the committee headed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prince Enobong Uwah, must publish clear, objective, and verifiable criteria for the selection of beneficiaries.

To ensure transparency and accountability, CHRAN urged the state government to expand the composition of the committee to include credible representatives of CSOs,.

It also said the inclusion of independent civil society voices will enhance public confidence in the process and provide an additional layer of oversight to guard against abuse of these taxpayers’ resources.