The Special Assistant on Media to Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State , Reverend Richard Peters, has described criticisms by a Civil Society Organisation, Policy Alert, against the approved 2023 Supplementary Budget of the state as unfounded and malicious.
Recall that Policy Alert, an organisation that focuses on fiscal policy and ecological justice in the Niger Delta, had in a statement by its Programme Officer, Fiscal Reforms and Anti-Corruption, Faith Paulinus, claimed that the Supplementary Budget submitted to the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly included appropriation for projects already commissioned, 90 SUVs for the office of the Secretary to the State Government as well as plans for excessive borrowing.
But, Eno’s Media Aide, Peters, while dismissing the allegation in a statement on Wednesday, noted that the governor submitted a Supplementary Budget that captured the financial plan for the completion of select projects inherited from the previous administration, and not those already commissioned.
Peters, who urged the group to probe deeper and verify their data before coming to the public, recalled that the governor had, during his campaigns, promised to complete projects started by the previous administration.
He said, “Methinks, the confusion emanated from the shallow thought by some who feel that a project commissioned cannot be expanded or remodeled to suit new demands and interest. A typical example is the Victor Attah International Airport which was commissioned by previous administration. But when former Governor Udom Emmanuel took over power, new projects like Maintenance Repair and Overhaul facility (MRO), Terminal Building and Taxi Way were initiated. Some projects are like this, even when commissioned, there are rooms for expansion. One should therefore understand the operation of government before publishing some stories.
“As a prudent leader who frowns at wasteful spending and abandonment of projects, Gov. Eno has declared a state of emergency on all projects not completed by previous administrations, and this is good for all Akwa Ibom people.
“There is absolutely nothing wrong with a new administration completing projects initiated by other administrations. Government is a continuum, and must be treated as such. Abandoning a yet-to-be-completed project and rushing to initiate new ones is the bane of development in Nigeria, and that error must be corrected.”
Speaking on the issue of borrowing, the SA said, “According to available records, in addition to a statement by the governor, the state government has not borrowed a dime yet.”
