The 2019 Appropriation Bill of N672.984 billion into law by the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel has become an Act.
Emmanuel who spoke on Wednesday after the brief ceremony at the Executive Chambers of Government House, Uyo thanked the House members particularly the speaker for the speedy deliberations and passage of the bill into law.
He pledged to implement the budgetary provisions accordingly to benefit Akwa Ibom people, but called for cooperation of the people in all spheres.
Earlier, members of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly led by Mrs Felicia Bassey, the Deputy Speaker, and Dr. Usoro Akpanusoh, the Chairman of the Appropriation and Finance Committee had presented the approved bill to the governor for assent.
Briefing Government House Correspondents, the Commissioner for Finance, Nsikan Linus Nkan said that the Budget christened “Budget of Industrialisation for Poverty Alleviation” is intended to actualize the Industralization and Job Creation Agenda of the present administration.
The Finance Commissioner who scored Governor Udom Emmanuel high on the implementation of the 2018 budget said the 2019 budget is expected to draw strength from the Internally Generated Revenue and other consolidated allocations.
Setting the tone earlier, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Charles Udoh said that the Executive Council presided over by Governor Udom Emmanuel deliberated on a number of issues being the first enlarged Exco meeting after the elections.
The signing of the budget was witnessed by Barr. Uwemedimo Nwoko, Attorney-General of the State and Commisioner for Justice and Nsikan Linus Nkan, the Commissioner for Finance and other members of the state executive council.
Meanwhile, the College of Education, Afaha Nsit in Nsit Ibom local government area of the state has been upgraded to a degree-awarding institution.
Addressing Government House correspondents, Prof. Victor Inoka, the Commissioner for Education, said the State Governor has granted approval for the College of Education to be a degree-awarding institution and the College is now affiliated to the University of Uyo.
“Some of the approved courses to include: Education Agriculture, Education English, Early Childhood and Primary Education, Education Chemistry, Education Biology, Education Physics, Education Mathematics, Technical Education, Integrated Science, Business Education and Social Studies all in Faculty of Education,” he listed.
