The Akwa Ibom State Executive Council has approved a draft budget estimate of N955 billion for the 2025 fiscal year.
The budget estimate was approved at state executive council meeting presided over by Governor Umo Eno.
A breakdown of the estimate shows that while N300,000 billion is for recurrent expenditure, N655 billion is for capital projects.
Also, the recurrent expenditure represents a 14 percent decrease as against the figure in the 2024 appropriation, while the capital expenditure of N655 billion reflects a 13 percent increase compared to that of 2024.
Commissioner for Infirmation, Comrade Ini Ememobongz who made this known to journalists in Uyo on Wednesday, said the council also approved a supplementary budget of N8 9 billion for 2024 being an augmentation of the N82. 4 billion incorporated into the N2014 appropriation bill.
“The meeting, chaired by the Governor, Umo Eno started with the presentation of the 2024 supplementary estimates and the draft recurrent and capital budgets for 2025 by the commissioner for finance.
“The supplementary budget reflects savings of N8,922,513,000 billion and an augmentation of N82,414,029,890 billion, incorporated into the 2024 appropriation bill.
“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 compared to 2024” he said.
The commissioner added that the projected internally generated revenue is N80 billion, a 28 percent rise over the 2024 figure, stating the council approved both estimates and directed their submission to the state House of Assembly for legislative review and further action.
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He said the Commissioner for Works and Fire Service, Prof. Eno Ibanga, presented a report on pothole assessment and repairs, assuring that the state was on course to achieve a no pothole status.
In a major policy review, the council also approved the implementation of a 65-year retirement age for non-academic staff of state-owned tertiary institutions, effective January 1, 2025, while it approved the award of road projects across the three senatorial districts of the state.
The projects include 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.
Others are the construction of a 2.7km road from Nto Obio Akpan-Ikot Obong-Urua Akpan in Essien Udim Local Government Area, and a 2km road from Ikot Uso-Udo Atan-Nto Obodem Mbiaso in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area.
Similarly, the construction of a 10.9km road with two 40m-span bridges spanning Use-Use Ikot Amama-Ibiaku Ikot Erica-Itong Nkwot Edem Edet in Ibiono Ibom and Ikono Local Government Areas were also approved.
Also approved is 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 Local Government Area, the construction of a 2km access road to the school of health technology in Etinan Local Government Area, and the 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 Local Government Area.
