Issues on Akwa Ibom International Worship Centre
“Donations from individuals and organizations will form the bulk of funds that will be used to build this project. Government’s contribution will be a very negligible percentage.”
That was Governor Udom Emmanuel during foundation laying for the 8,500 seat capacity Akwa Ibom International Worship Centre.
After the statement, time for action came. But lo and behold in the approved revised budget of 2020, the Akwa Ibom State government budgeted N2 billion for “Design and Preliminary Work” for the building while N3 billion was budgeted for “Building Work” during the fiscal year. This summed up to a total of N5 billion for the fiscal year.
But more is to come in 2021. In its proposed budget before the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, the State Government has proposed N6.750 billion to be sunk into the project under the item tagged ” Building Work”.
This implies that between 2020 and 2021, N11.750 billion is earmarked for the Akwa Ibom International Worship Centre. This provision is higher than three (3) months FAAC allocation of Osun State in 2020. Osun State receives an average of N3.2 billion monthly in 2020 from Federation Account Allocation Committee.
Akwa Ibom indigenes, Civil Societies and Civil Liberties Organisations in the state have expressed their disappointment and disapproval over the budget for the Akwa Ibom International Worship Centre project. They recommend that funds earmarked for the project should be channeled to sectors that will have direct impact in improving the lives of Akwa Ibom people.
Yet, will members of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly answer to their father’s name and act on the demands and yearnings of the people of Akwa Ibom State as they consider the proposed budget before them? The answer will manifest in days to come.
