2019 Budget: Akwa Ibom people demand details of Constituency Projects implementation
PREAMBLE
A cross section of Akwa Ibom State citizens drawn from the 26 state constituencies across the State met in Uyo on November 26, 2020 at the 2020 COMMUNITY FORUM ON CONSTITUENCY PROJECTS IN AKWA IBOM STATE review the implementation of State constituency projects in the 2019 fiscal year. The Forum was organized by Policy Alert with support from Actionaid Nigeria and the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
OBSERVATIONS
We note that there was an approved budget of N1.632 billion, and the actual release of N1.057 billion for constituency projects across the 26 state constituencies as contained in the Akwa Ibom State 2019 Annual Report of the Accountant General released to the public on November 19, 2020.
We also note that there was a vote of N1 billion for Constituency Projects in the approved revised 2020 budget (the implementation level of which we cannot ascertain at this time), and a further vote of N1 billion in the proposed budget for 2021.
As grassroots citizens, we remain committed to improving citizens’ engagement with the legislature and strengthening transparency and accountability in budget Implementation.
Forum therefore resolved as follows:
RESOLUTIONS
Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly (AKHA) members responsible for nomination of constituency projects across 26 state constituencies should PUBLICLY disclose the TYPE of nominated and implemented constituency project(s) for 2019 and 2020 in their respective State constituencies.
AKHA members responsible for nomination of constituency projects across 26 state constituencies should PUBLICLY disclose the SITES OR LOCATION of the nominated and implemented constituency project(s) for 2019 and 2020 in their respective State constituencies.
AKHA members responsible for nomination of constituency projects across 26 state constituencies should PUBLICLY disclose the COSTS for the project nominated and implemented for each constituency project(s) for 2019 and 2020 in their respective State constituencies.
AKHA members responsible for nomination of constituency projects across 26 state constituencies should PUBLICLY disclose the CURRENT STATUS of the project(s) nominated and implemented for each constituency project(s) for 2019 and 2020 in their respective State constituencies.
AKHA members responsible for nomination of constituency projects across 26 state constituencies should PUBLICLY disclose the CONTRACTORS for the project(s) nominated and implemented for each constituency projects for 2019 and 2020 in their respective State constituencies.
AKHA members responsible for nomination of constituency projects across 26 state constituencies should PUBLICLY disclose the DATE OF COMMENCEMENT, COMPLETION AND COMMISSIONING of nominated and implemented constituency project(s) for 2019 and 2020 in their respective State constituencies.
AKHA members responsible for nomination of constituency projects across 26 state constituencies should COMMENCE a process of ENGAGING with their CONSTITUENTS on the 2021 Constituency projects as soon as the 2021 Budget becomes law to ensure that proposed projects address the real needs and priorities of our communities.
AKHA members responsible for nomination of constituency projects across 26 state constituencies should in future ensure that DETAILS of the PROPOSED CONSTITUENCY PROJECTS are clearly indicated in the BUDGET in a spirit of transparency and to enable grassroots actors track, ensure efficient implementation, exercise ownership and protect the said projects.
CONCLUSION
It was unanimously agreed that this public request/communique from today’s Forum be forwarded to the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly (AKHA) by the undersigned members of the Communique Drafting Committee on behalf of representatives of various communities in attendance from across the state, including youth groups, women groups, Traditional Councils, community based organizations (CBOs), and Community Development Associations (CDAs). We trust that as ‘the People’s Assembly’, the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly will respond to these requests in good faith.
COMMUNIQUE ON THE DEMAND FOR DETAILS OF CONSTITUENCY PROJECTS IMPLEMENTED IN 2019 IN AKWA IBOM STATE
Signed by:
2019 Budget: Akwa Ibom people demand details of Constituency Projects implementation
