Gov. Umo Eno during the Ecco meeting on Friday.
By Dianabasi Effiong
The Akwa Ibom State Government rose from its Executive Council meeting on Friday in Uyo to declare a state of emergency in the health sector.
The council also proposed a N695 billion supplementary budget for 2025.
The state of emergency in the sector followed a comprehensive review of the administration’s healthcare development roadmap.
The meeting, presided over by Governor Umo Eno, also resolved to accelerate reforms and further deliver efficient healthcare services in line with the ARISE agenda of the administration.
The Commissioner for Information, Elder Aniekan Umanah, who made this known to the Government House Correspondents, said that key directives under this emergency regime included further upgrade of medical facilities across the State, reopening of the recruitment portal, and engagement of 2,000 healthcare workers, with the voters’ identity card number requirement waived for applicants.
According to Umanah, the governor also directed the upgrading of health training institutions, enrollment and training of health professionals, as well as the engagement of retired but willing medical personnel on a contract basis.
The State Government also announced the constitution of an Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee, with membership drawn from relevant ministries and agencies, to ensure prompt and efficient implementation of the emergency measures.
The Exco also proposed a supplementary bill of ₦695 billion, raising the total budget size of 2025 to ₦1.65 trillion, comprising ₦125.664 billion for Recurrent Expenditure and ₦569.335 billion for Capital Expenditure.
The supplementary budget is expected to provide for the implementation of the new minimum wage and personnel emoluments, allowances for NYSC members serving in the State and Akwa Ibom NYSC members serving outside the State, emergency flood and erosion control, completion of ongoing projects affected by inflation, construction of new infrastructure across the State, purchase of Ibom CNG Mass Transit buses, funding for newly created Ministries of Sports, Digital Economy, Humanitarian Services and the Bureau of Rural Development and Cooperatives, the Tree Crop Revolution programme, construction of new housing estates, renovation of the House of Assembly complex, capital provisions for the acquisition of new aircraft, and the development of the ARISE Shopping City.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Governor welcomed Council members and charged them to demonstrate greater commitment and drive towards the full realization of the ARISE Agenda for the overall development of the State.
The meeting also had in attendance the Deputy Governor, Sen. Akon Eyakenyi; the Secretary to the State Government; the Head of the Civil Service; the Executive Assistant and Chief Delivery Advisor; Honourable Commissioners; and Special Advisers.
