AKHA passes 2014 budget …harps on establishment of children, youth parliament

The controversial 2014 budget which was prepared in line with the International Public Sector Accounting Standard (IPSAS) and presented to the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly last year by the State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio was passed into law last Thursday following the report of the House Committee on Appropriation and Finance through its chairman, Barr Onofiok Luke.

The Appropriation committee who spoke through its head, Barr Onofiok Luke told the House that the delay in the budget was caused by the IPSAS principles which he said is very new to the House hence, the long time taken to go through the budget.

Role conflict among government ministries, commissions and parastatals; the AKHA approach and IPSAS verdict

The dynamism of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly (AKHA) in recent time has been brought to the fore, revealing the real essence for which men and women of proven integrity were selected by the electorates to represent different constituencies in the hallowed chamber of the Assembly. The election of these men allowed the entire people of the state to have a voice through their representatives in the running of the state. Beyond speaking for their various constituencies, as lawmakers with many oversight functions, the representatives of the people must ensure that both individual and cooperate interest in the state are well tweeted as enshrine in the law of the land.

Today, the Rt. Hon Sam Ikon’s led 5th Assembly also known as the People’s Assembly has matched words with action using different approaches to ensure that the much cherished uncommon transformation of the present administration continue to see the light of the day. The legislators unwavering support to the executive could be measured with the number of executive bills passed into law since the inception of the 5th Assembly. As an arm of government, the legislature in Akwa Ibom State plays its role without conflicting with the executive or any other arm of government. This further makes it possible for the executive arm to deliver dividend of democracy to the people as expected.

Accountant-General trains account officers in Uyo BY GODWIN SAM

The office of the Accountant General in collaboration with Victor Eme and Co, Chartered Accountants organized a financial management workshop for Account Officers in the state civil service in last week.

The event which had as its theme “Application of International Public Sector Accounting Standard (IPSAS) in Public Sector Financial Management” was held on Wednesday 22nd and Thursday 23rd January, 2014, at the Civil Service Auditorium for Level 7 account officers in the state civil service. 

The Head of the State Civil Service, Mrs. Cecilia UdoEssien who declared the event open, in a keynote address, thanked the participants for coming out in numbers to grace the occasion, describing it as apt and timely.

Participatory budget appropriation; Onofiok Luke’s example BY JOSEPH OKON

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.

Udom Emmanuel: A corporate administrator in cooperate governance

History was again made in the life of governance in Akwa Ibom State sequel the inauguration of the present Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Udom Emmanuel.

Like the state governor who performed the inauguration declared, the experience the new Secretary to Government has gathered over the years having worked in the private sector, will bring the needed skill to his job as Secretary to the State Government.

When looking at the background of the new Scribe, one would be tempted to conclude that if given the enabling environment to exhibit his ingenuity and dexterity, Akwa Ibom state will soon stand out among her contemporaries like the Zenith Bank that is today standing as the biggest and strongest private financial institution, not just in Nigeria, but in Africa as a whole.