Contrary to the opinion bandied by Akwa Ibom State government that the funding of International Worship Centre, Uyo in Akwa Ibom State capital would be done by Non-Governmental Organisations and individuals, the government Tuesday owned up the funding of the centre appropriated for in this year’s budget.
During the foundation laying- ceremony of the project at Banking layout, Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo, governor Udom Emmanuel told the excited crowd that the centre would be funded by Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) and other concerned individuals and friends of the state.
However, in an interview with Inspiration FM, Uyo last week, Dr. Usoro Akpanusoroh, chairman of Akwa Ibom House of Assembly Committee on Finance and Appropriation, hinted that the state government has allocated N10 billion in this year’s budget for the project.
Answering questions on the allocation for the centre in this year’s state government budget Tuesday in Planet 101.1 FM, Uyo, Mr. Charles Udoh, the state commissioner for Information and Strategy, said “Every budget is always reviewed downward or the budget is accepted as it is or is rejected. Now until any of those three happen, you cannot say this is what is supposed to happen.
Udoh speaking under Akwa Ibom Mandate anchored by Sampson Akpan recapped “For instance, my ministry had a budget proposal approved for N1.5 billion last year. Of the amount, we only had a release of less than N500 million. That was the budget approved, but the actual expenditure was less than N500 million. So, any approved budget does not translate into actual expenditure. Expenditure is dependent on availability of cash.
He noted “Today, the budget of Akwa Ibom State government has not been approved because it is still going through the normal processes in the state House of Assembly. So, any figure any person calls on any project now cannot be swallowed hook, line and sinker because at the end of the day that may not be the figure. As I said, a few things may happen: either the figure is reviewed downward or upward or it is completely rejected.”
There are instances budget lines are taken to the state House of Assembly and they are completely expunged from the proposal at the point of approval. There are instances where budget proposals are sent to the House of Assembly and some budget lines were not included and they are quickly incorporated before approvals by the members.”
The commissioner who was reacting to public aversion to the government’s funding of the centre enjoined “Let us focus on progressive things rather than focusing on things that would not add value to us.”
