By Emeka Samuel,Uyo
Akwa Ibom government has proposed a supplementary bill of ₦695 billion for the 2025 fiscal year, raising the total budget size of 2025 to ₦1.65 trillion,
Meanwhile, following a comprehensive review of the administration’s healthcare development roadmap, it has declared a State of Emergency on its Health Sector and approved the employment of additional 2,000 medical personnel to be distributed access health facilities across the Local Councils.
Information Commissioner, Mr Aniekan Umana who announced this while briefing reporters at the end of the weekly State Executive Council meeting in Uyo weekend said the supplementary budget comprisied of ₦125,664,328,180 for Recurrent Expenditure and ₦569,335,671,820 for Capital Expenditure.
The supplementary budget Umana said is expected to provide for the implementation of the new minimum wage and personnel emoluments, allowances for NYSC members serving in the State and Akwa Ibom NYSC members serving outside the State, emergency flood and erosion control, completion of ongoing projects affected by inflation and construction of new infrastructure across the State.
It would also be appropriated for the purchase of Ibom CNG Mass Transit buses, funding for newly created Ministries of Sports, Digital Economy, Humanitarian Services and the Bureau of Rural Development and Cooperatives, the Tree Crop Revolution programme, construction of new housing estates, renovation of the House of Assembly complex, capital provisions for the acquisition of new aircraft, and the development of the ARISE Shopping City.
The healthcare development roadmap according to the commissioner is to accelerate reforms and further deliver efficient healthcare services in line with the ARISE agenda of the administration.
He explained that the, “key directives under this emergency regime include further upgrade of medical facilities across the State, reopening of the recruitment portal and engagement of 2,000 healthcare workers, with the voters identity card number requirement waived for applicants.”
According to the Commissioner, the Executive Council presided over by the Governor Umo Eno,, “further directed the upgrading of health training institutions, enrollment and training of health professionals, as well as the engagement of retired but willing medical personnel on contract basis“.
The State Government also announced the constitution of an Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee, with membership drawn from relevant ministries and agencies, to ensure prompt and efficient implementation of.
