Akwa Ibom State Government has approved a three months financial support for government Workers and Pensioners to the tune of two billion naira.
Government has also approved Fridays as ticket-free day for transport operators and traders in markets in all the local government areas till December, 2023.
The State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno announced the approvals after the state executive council received and deliberated on report of the Palliative Committee during its session at Government House Uyo, Thursday.
Commissioner for Information, Comrade Ini Emem-Obong while briefing government house correspondents on the development said so far, the state has received N2 Billion naira from the federal government, announcing that a total of 100,000 bags of rice is available for distribution across the state.
According to Comrade Emem-Obong, a breakdown of the distribution measures agreed by the state executive council indicates that the rice will be shared 40 bags to each of the 2,272 gazetted villages and other strategic groups in the state.
He said some exercise books would be distributed to primary and secondary schools in addition to payment of N10,000 Bursary to undergraduates of Akwa Ibom origin in all Public tertiary institutions in the country on verification.
He said discussions were on to explore other transportation alternative, saying the measures were in addition to the over two Billion Naira gratuity already released to both state and local government retirees.
Meanwhile, the State Government has proposed a supplementary budget of one hundred and fifty billion naira.
Of the amount, fifty point three billion naira is for recurrent expenditure while Capital expenditure is to gulp ninety nine point six-nine billion naira.
Commissioner for information, Comrade In Ememobong made this known when he briefed Government House Correspondents on some resolutions reached at the state executive committee meeting presided over by the Governor, Pastor Umo Umo Eno and attended by all executive council members.
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According to his brief, the proposal for supplementary budget followed the presentation of a memorandum for supplementary estimates by the commissioner for Finance, Dr Nsikan Nkan, premised on the need for realignment of financial estimates with current realities.
Comrade Emem-Obong explained that the supplementary estimates is to meet up with the current economic realities not provided for in the 2023 appreciation act and also make additional provisions for flood control and other statewide erosion control interventions, budgetary provisions for newly created ministries, as well as provisions for the construction of Model Primary, Secondary and Technical schools and resources for the realization of the ARISE Agenda promises.
The information Boss also disclosed that the state executive council, during Thursday’s session, also received reports on the launch of Akwa Ibom Geographical Information System, AkwaGIS, awarded contracts for the construction of 1.3 kilometre underground discharge drain from Atiku Abubakar Avenue to Olusegun Obasanjo Way, Uyo and reconstruction of Udoinwang Road as well as erosion control at Udoinwang Gully Erosion Site, Uyo.
Other highlights during the council meeting, Comrade Emem-Obong said included approval for the State’s participation in the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms, financed by the World Bank and jointly implemented by the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, Debt Management Office and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.
