It is universally true that some people will always want to contribute their best, either ideas or in kind, to the development of their societies.
Barr. Onofiok Luke is one of those that like contributing his quota, in whatever way positive, to his society. Perhaps, this kind of notion may have informed the elaborate budget briefings organized by him in his capacity as the member representing Nsit Ubium State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly. It is in recognition of the tenets of democracy that this lawmaker who doubles as the Chairman House Committee on Finance and Appropriation consistently, since 2012, made the State budget a peoples centered budget and allow all interested parties, groups, organizations civil society groups associations, and others concerned about development of the State to participate and contribute their ideas and opinions on what the State budget should focus on.
It is no doubt that Hon. (Barr.) Onofiok Luke is a strong advocate of the masses, a man who believes that one man does not have the monopoly of knowledge, and that the masses of the State deserve to reap the dividend of democracy which, according to him, is the main essence of democracy. The 2014 budget that was recently presented to the State House of Assembly by the Governor is not an exception. All parties, interest groups, civil societies, NLC, TUC, government agencies and parastatals and other interested bodies where invited and they were all there during the 2014 budget briefing by the Hon. Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Bassey Albert Akpan and the commissioner for Economic Development, Mr. Akan Okon
The 2014 budget briefing was the second in the series that the House was seeking direct participation of stakeholders before the passage into law.
Speaking before the budget briefing by the Finance Commissioner, Barr Onofiok Luke who was also the Chairman on the occasion told the gathering that the breakdown of 2014 budget estimate of 469.374 billion as presented to the State House of Assembly by the Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio has 16 percent and 19 percent respectively being budget for capital expenditure and consolidated revenue fund. The propose budget is predicated on the 74 dollar oil bench mark at a barrel on a production rate of 2.4million barrel per day in 2014.
Hon Luke maintained that as the bill was committed to the committee on appropriation and finance of the house which he is the chairman for consideration, and added that it was his thinking and that of the members of the committee that since the appropriation law can go a long way to decide the collective destiny and future of the people, it is proper to subject it to the participatory input of the entire people of the State which is the second successive year that the House is seeking the direct participation of stakeholders in an appropriation bill; adding that he had called for memoranda to be submitted by interested members of the public on the proposed budget, which responses on that regard have been very encouraging. And also emphasized that the people’s input will be the fulcrum upon which the House will base its participation on the bill before passing into law.
According to him, as a peoples parliament, the State House of Assembly, has not just accord the right of place to the ordinary citizens in running the affairs of the State which today the stakeholders in the Akwa Ibom project has been fully mobilized through the mass media and direct invitation by the House all in the bid to ensure that every individual, professional, religious body, interested groups and investors are offered the opportunity to have a say in what government proposes to spend in their commonwealth. The cardinal interest of the committee is to see to it that the people of the State make input into the budget which belongs to the people as tax payers which their contributions will ultimately guide the House in approving monies out of the consolidated revenue and capital development fund to serve Akwa Ibom State in the 2014 fiscal year.
Barr Luke further assured the people of the sincere commitment of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly towards the attainment of a more people-centered fiscal year in the State, just as the Governor is pioneering the transparent public expenditure in accounting system through his adoption of IPSAS paradigm for 2014 budget. He also assured the people that at the level of appropriation and finance committee which he is the chairman, the committee will ensure that the maximum priority is given to their contributions and proposals to the House at plenary.
Luke also used the opportunity to commend the speaker of the House, Elder Samuel Ikon for initiating the people’s assembly philosophy, an idea which all members of the House bears in mind as they strive everyday as lawmakers to keep faith with their constituents. He asked all the participants to feel free to make their contributions and opinion which he assured that those contributions and opinions if well articulated will be considered for the benefit of the people of the State since no man has the monopoly of knowledge which is the reason of the gathering for people to make contributions. He made it clear to the people that their inputs will be of great benefit to the House in considering what he term as “the people’s future and destiny” which is the budget.
Barr. Luke has been making the people a centre hallmark of his representation even at his constituency representation, and has also sponsored many people oriented bills chief among them is the bill to protect people living with disability and a bill which has been passed into law that has transformed the State action committee on aid to an agency of government to be able to access funds from the international community to fight HIV/AIDS in the State.
The 2014 according to him represents the collective interest and aspiration of the people of the State which the House is committed to ensure that the collective voices of the people is heard in the budget.
With his avowed commitment and determination to ensure that the appropriation of monies to the State executive by the State House of Assembly is truly used for the service of the people; the Onofiok Luke led appropriation committee before submitting its report to the House for consideration ensured that it visits all sites of the projects that were budgeted for in the previous budget.
In 2013 the committee inspected the Ibom International Airport which the MD of Ibom Airport company, Mr. Jerry William took members of the committee around the development areas of the Ibom International Airport.
The Alcon Nig. Limited that is handling the MRO and the sub-station that will supply power to the airport were also on hand to conduct the committee around.
The Gitto Construction Company was also on site which is handling the construction of extended airport connecting to the terminal building.
The maintenance, repair and overhaul, the taxi hall and the 3.2 taxi way was also inspected – including the 20th Anniversary Hospital, the stadium, and others. According to Barr Luke, the 2014 budget will not be an exception as the committee before submitting its report to the House for final consideration will inspect all the ongoing projects in the State that monies were appropriated for in last year’s budget to see State that monies were appropriated for in last year’s budget to see the extent of work done with those monies.
On his part, the speaker of the House, Elder Samuel Ikon commended the effort of the Appropriation and Finance Committee of the House in instituting series of public hearings in all the appropriation bills of the State.
He said that members of the House have stood firmly to the objective of the Assembly to always stand by the side of the people, and partner with the executive to envelop the State.
The Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Bassey Albert Akpan described 2013 budget as the most challenging in the live of this administration, and base on that the State is very careful in projections for 2014. He disclosed that government will pay priority attention to completion of all major projects in the State.
The Commissioner for Economic Development said that the objective of 2014 budget is to lay foundation for real sector growth, encourage job creation which the policy trust of completing all ongoing projects and block leakages. The 2014 budget which is tagged: “Budget of Actualization” is expected to complete all ongoing projects in the State before the end of the present administration in May 29, 2015.
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