Assembly approved N1.2bn for the project – AKHA Speaker
By Ak Kingsley
On the fuss about the proposed construction of an Akwa Ibom State governor’s lodge in Lagos State which has assumed different controversial dimensions in the media in the last couple of days, Speaker Onofiok Luke of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has given an air-clearing message.
The speaker passed the message yesterday while speaking at the 30th anniversary celebration of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibo- the highest sociocultural organization of the Ibibo ethnic group.
Responding to the fuss, Luke stressed that there was no point fussing over a project that was merely contained in a budget when the government is yet to realize enough funds needed for the execution of projects of top priorities in the same budget.
He hinted that a budget is only a proposal of government about its intentions to do one or two things for the development of the state, adding that its implementation is determined by priorities of government based on availability of funds and backed up by scale of preference.
In his words: “I speak here as Onofiok Akpan Luke, and I speak here as Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, precisely Speaker of the very House that made the approval of N1.2bn, first, N500m in the main budget of 2017 and then N700m in the supplementary budget.
“Budget is a proposal of government about the intention of government to do one or two things for the development of the state. Its implementation is determined by priorities of government based on availability of funds and backed up by scale of preference. It does not mean that what has been included is going to be executed immediately.
“Inside that same budget, we approved the sum of N5bn for economic development and intervention of government through the inter-ministerial, direct labour project for the renovation of schools, renovation of health centres; but they are not talking about that one. Inside that same budget, there has been provision for a sum of N50bn for construction of roads to aid our farmers evacuate our farm products from the interior to the centre where they can be processed and sold. They are not talking about that one.
“Again, inside that budget, there has been provision for the sum of N10bn naira for the ministry of agriculture to make for agricultural development and food sufficiency in the state. But they are not talking about that one. Still inside that same budget, there are other provisions that will aid improve the lives of Akwa Ibom people. But they are not talking about that one. They went to paint the governor black- a man that the grace of God is upon his head and he has a vision and will guide that vision to the end”.
Luke reiterated that the inclusion of the proposed governor’s lodge in Lagos never meant the government was going to do it immediately, adding that government has its priorities which depends on available funds for implementation.
“And let me say here, the inclusion of the governor’s lodge in the budget does not mean it is going to happen immediately. Government has priorities, and the priority of governor Udom Emmanuel as I understand is to make sure that there is food sufficiency and to see to the generation of wealth in the state through industrialization.
“It is only when there is availability of funds that you can go about other provisions. In the hierarchy of priorities, renovation of schools, renovation of hospitals like we have seen in other places are the priorities of Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel. The government has not started any construction of a governor’s lodge in Lagos; government has not even called for bidders. We had passed the fiscal responsibility law where, before you execute a project, you must advertise and call for bidders”, he noted.
Luke further appealed to Akwa Ibom people to always seek information from the right quarters whenever a matter of concern is up in the public, adding that the Akwa Ibom 6th Assembly will always cooperate with the governor where it concerns the development of the state.
“When you hear of a particular matter, as an Ibibio son, as an Akwa Ibom child, please seek information from the right quarters. And I want to say here today, proudly and courageously so, that the house of assembly under my leadership will always cooperate with the governor for the development of the state.
Let me also say, that the House of Assembly will continue to be an iron seal, quote me, an iron seal for the progress of the state; an iron seal for the developmental projects of government”, he added.
Meanwhile, the Speaker who chaired the evening session of the Mboho’s annual celebration was conferred with an award of leadership and patriotism by the organization during the anniversary celebration which also featured a 20th Obong Sampson Udo Etuk Annual Lecture.
