Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno Signs N849.97 Billion 2024 Budget Into Law

Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom has officially signed the 2024 appropriation bill into law, giving the green light to a budget totaling N849.97 billion.

The governor’s endorsement took place during an expanded Executive Council meeting convened at the Government House in Uyo on Thursday. In his address, Governor Eno emphasized the imperative of intensifying efforts in revenue generation, calling for a concerted focus on financial inflow rather than merely allocating funds.

The final budget size, as approved by the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly on December 21, reflected an addition of N4.3 billion from the initial sum of N845.63 billion initially presented by the governor.

Governor Eno underscored the need to match the budget’s magnitude with proportional revenue, citing past instances where revenue shortfalls hindered effective budget implementation.

While acknowledging the House of Assembly’s meticulous consideration of the bill, Governor Eno urged key agencies, including the Ministry of Finance, Internal Revenue Service, and the Ethical and Attitudinal Reorientation Commission (EARCOM), to intensify efforts in revenue mobilization.

The governor outlined his administration’s strategic plans to boost the state’s internally generated revenue to ensure a seamless funding of the budget.

In signing the budget, Governor Umo Eno affirmed, “My priority will be on revenue. How do we get to bring in the revenue? Because there is no point having a budget this big when the revenue is not commensurate.”

He commended the House of Assembly for their collaborative efforts in ensuring the thorough and timely passage of the budget, setting the stage for fiscal responsibility and financial sustainability in Akwa Ibom.