Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno Forms Teams to Verify Local Government Projects

Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno has established verification teams to authenticate projects executed by local government Transition Committee chairmen across the 31 council areas in the state. This initiative aims to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of government funds.

The verification teams, announced by the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prince Enobong Uwah, are composed of commissioners and some House of Assembly members. Their mandate is to verify and authenticate the projects executed during the six-month tenure of the Transition Committee chairmen.

Governor Eno had previously visited all local government areas for fact-finding missions but was reportedly not satisfied with the findings. This led to the formation of the verification teams to provide a more comprehensive assessment of the projects. The teams are expected to submit their reports by Wednesday, June 5, 2024.

The verification exercise comes at a time when local government allocations have significantly improved over the past six months. The governor seeks to ensure that the funds allocated to the local governments have been utilized effectively and efficiently.

Why this matters: This initiative has broader significance as it promotes transparency and accountability in government spending, ensuring that public funds are utilized effectively. If successful, it could lead to improved governance and development in Akwa Ibom State and potentially inspire similar initiatives in other regions.

The teams are led by various commissioners, including Uno Etim Uno, Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Resources, and Orman Esin, Commissioner for Transport. Other team leaders include Otobong Effiong Bob, a member of the State Assembly, Nsikan Linus Nkan, Commissioner for Finance, Raphael Bassey, Commissioner for Housing, and Ini Ememobong, Commissioner for Information.

Governor Eno had earlier directed the 31 local government transition chairmen to submit their achievements over the past six months through the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs before May 20, 2024. These reports are intended to be used for effective and more robust planning for the next phase of governance.

In a related development, Governor Eno has approved the commencement of the second phase of the one project per local government area initiative. Interested parties in each council area are required to submit their selected projects within the week. Council areas that selected model primary schools in phase one are to select model primary health centers for phase two, and vice versa, to ensure parity of development.

The verification teams' findings will guide Governor Eno in making informed decisions regarding the local government projects, ensuring that public funds are used transparently and effectively.

"His Excellency, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno has approved the appointment of the following Government officials as members of the Verification Team to authenticate the projects executed by the respective Chairmen and Members of the 31 Local Government Transition Committee during their six months tenure in Office," said Prince Enobong Uwah, Secretary to the State Government.

Key Takeaways

• Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno establishes verification teams to authenticate local government projects.
• Teams composed of commissioners and House of Assembly members will verify projects executed by Transition Committee chairmen.
• Verification exercise aims to ensure transparency and accountability in government spending.
• Reports are due by June 5, 2024, to guide informed decisions on local government projects.
• Initiative promotes transparency and accountability in government spending, ensuring effective use of public funds.