Etop Umoidem
Akwa Ibom State is on the verge of losing over 1.4 Billion Naira in financial support funds from the World Bank for Community Development in 2023, as the Commissioner for Economic Development, Mr. Emem Bob declared the closure of the facilitating agency, Akwa Ibom State Agency for Community and Social Development.
Our reporter gathered from reliable sources that the State would also be asked to refund 1. 4 billion naira which was allotted to the State in 2022 since the agency which is under the supervision of the Ministry of Economic Development has not been able to execute projects with the funds which was disbursed to the State last year.
Findings revealed that Emem Bob, having assumed office during the tenure of the immediate past Governor Udom Emmanuel, instead of executing the ongoing social development projects for the disbursement of funds allotted to the poor and vulnerable in the State, closed down the operation of the facilitating agency in January 2023, with reference to a letter no.: MED/S/338/VOL.111/103 dated 23rd January 2023, stressing that unlawful closure of the agency is a total abuse of the provisions of the law establishing the Agency in Section 1 (1).
This unholy development necessitated the Concerned Akwa Ibom Benefiting Communities (CAIBC), to embark on a fact finding mission to the head office of the Agency located at 8 Akpa Ube street, Uyo.
1.4 Billion Naira Support Funds
A communique issued on Thursday, 28th September 2023 by Concerned Akwa Ibom Benefiting Communities CAIBC, after their findings stated that “the amount accruing to the State from the international community (World Bank) is placed at the value of 1.4 billion naira for community development yearly, and if not properly utilized for the purpose which it is intended, it will be refunded to the source (Donor Organization)”.
The Communities bemoaned that “from 2018 till date, no community development projects has been executed in Akwa Ibom State through the agency despite the funds that were released to the State” through the account of the agency which is now allegedly control by the Commissioner for Economic Development, Mr. Emem Bob, as signatory.
Enumerating the giant strides of the agency in the past administrations, Communities hinted that, “the Agency was established by law in 2009 and existed for 13 years, and in these 13 years, it has executed 378 far – reaching and life touching projects, including Construction of Health Centres, Drilling of Motorized Borehole, Construction of Civic Centres, Construction of Culvert Drainage, Establishment of Skill Acquisition Centers, Construction of Open Market Stalls, Provision of Electricity/Installation of Transformers, Construction/Renovation of Class Room Blocks among others, in Communities cut across the 31 Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State thereby using the international community assisted funds in translating the agenda of successive governments in the State”.
The Communities explained further that the rationale behind their coming together to advocate for immediate implementation of the projects, and intervention of Gov. Umo Eno, centers on the ground that the projects have experienced undue delay despite the availability of funds, stressing that this will avoid the return of funds to the Donor Agency, which will adversely affect these communities.
Communities who passed a vote of no confidence on the Commissioner for Economic Development, Mr. Emem Bob, further appealed to Governor Umo Eno, to please, direct immediate reopening of the agency’s office activities, with outstanding 11 months salary of the agency’s workers paid to them, and to also sack Mr. Emem Almond Bob, as his present in Ministry as commissioner is a sabotage to government programs and policies.
The Communique reads in part ” that the present Commissioner for Economic Development, Mr. Emem Bob, having assumed office during the tenure of the immediate past Governor, instead of executing the ongoing social development projects for the disbursement of funds allotted to the poor and vulnerable, closed down the agency in January 2023 with reference to a letter no.: MED/S/338/VOL.111/103 dated 23rd January 2023. The closure of the agency is a total abuse of the provisions of the law establishing the Agency in Section 1 (1).
“That the present Commissioner on assumption of office contravened the provisions of the law establishing the Agency in 2010, by usurping the powers of the general manager as stated in section 4 (3)(4)(a)(b)(g) and (h) by making himself a key signatory to the Agency’s Bank Account and therefore rendered the agency incapacitated.
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The commissioner also abandoned the trained and pioneer personnel of the Agency, domicile with the requisite experiences to execute the implementation of projects, as required by World Bank and denied them salaries and allowances for 11 months as at now, with the intention of replacing them with his own loyalists that know nothing about the workings and operations of the Agency.
We suspect that the Commissioner is doing this to implement his ill intention and frustrate the benefitting Communities, who had lined up for the past 5 years or more. Hence, we resolve as follows: That we state our firm resolve to continually give our maximum support and solidarity to the present administration of His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno as critical partners in the Arise Agenda.
That we passionately appeal to His Excellency, The Governor to direct the immediate reopening and funding of the Akwa Ibom State Agency for Community and Social Development Office, Uyo for the commencement of their primary activities to ensure that these life touching projects are executed to avoid the return of funds to the Donor Agency, which will adversely affect these communities.
That we appeal that the salaries and allowances of the staff of the Agency should be paid them to motivate them to render proper service to the affected communities. That Akwa Ibom State has already missed out on the first, second and third quarter of the NG-Cares/Ak-Cares project phase for 2023.
We, therefore, appeal for the release of funds for the said projects to the communities, vulnerable groups and livelihood support grants beneficiaries, which the time for the implementation of these projects may end and the monies will be returned to the donor organization”.
Meanwhile, our reporter scooped from a staff of the agency whose name withheld that the World Bank has recently requested report from the agency on the level of projects so far executed in the State within the period under review, with the view to released the 2023 NG-CARES / AK-CARES stimulus funds for community development, vulnerable, and livelihood support grant to the State to cushion the effect of the current economic quagmire.
Hence, the need for the Governor to invite the management of the Agency, and the management of the Ministry of Economic Development led by the Commissioner, to an urgent crucial meeting to be furnished with first class information about the delay of implementation of the projects despite the availability of funds.
Independent investigations show that many states across the Country are executing massive community projects using the social development support funds and standing chances of collecting more funds from World Bank for their excellent service delivery
