Israel Umoh
News Commentary
Akwa Ibom State is, again, on the track of making lasting impact and creating history. The dissolution of boards, statutory and non-statutory commissions to be followed by their reconstitution provides the corridor to reinvigorate the moribund and strengthen the existing ones to redeem the state from being plunged into political abyss, social malaise and economic doldrum.
The state government’s recent move to reinvigorate several dissolved boards and commissions is more than just a bureaucratic shuffle—it is a golden opportunity to restore public trust, enhance quality service delivery, and reposition governance structures to meet the challenges of modern development.
But this opportunity will amount to little if these bodies are repopulated with the same familiar faces that have long turned public institutions into political retirement homes. The call for “men—and women—of proven integrity” must go beyond tokenism. It must define the very fabric of this reinvigoration process.
You may also read:
- Editorial: NBS and its cynical Report on inflation
- Editorial: Remedying That Expensive Fart
- Editorial: Tackling Persistent Floods In A‘Ibom
Akwa Ibom State boasts a range of statutory boards, commissions, and parastatals, each with critical mandates that affect the lives of the citizens. The key ones include:
*Akwa Ibom State Universal Basic Education Board (AKSUBEB)
*Akwa Ibom State Secondary Education Board (SSEB)
*Akwa Ibom Technical Education Board
*Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service (AKIRS)
*Akwa Ibom Investment Corporation (AKICORP)
*Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency (AKSEPWMA)
*Akwa Ibom State Road and Other Infrastructure Maintenance Agency (AKROIMA)
*Akwa Ibom State Civil Service Commission
*Akwa Ibom State Local Government Service Commission
*Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC)
*Akwa Ibom State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board
*Akwa Ibom State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board
*Akwa Ibom State Sports Council
*Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation (AKBC)
*Akwa Ibom State Tourism Board
*Àkwa Ibom Law Reforms Commission
*The Ethical and Attitudinal Re-orientation Commission (EARCOM)
*Governing Council of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua
*Governing Council of College of Education, Afaha Nsit
*Akwa Ibom Newspaper Corporation (AKNC)
*Peacock Paints Ltd
*Akwa Savings and Loans Ltd
*Judicial Service Commission.
These institutions are not ornamental; they are essential to the state’s development architecture. Whether it’s ensuring that children receive quality basic education, managing state investments, regulating the environment, or organizing credible local government elections, these boards directly impact governance and daily life.
However, over the years, many have been plagued by redundancy, lack of direction, political interference, or outright corruption. Some were dissolved due to allegations of mismanagement or their inability to deliver on their mandates or even to add value to their offices. Others have simply outlived their usefulness in the form they were originally conceived.
Now, with the state government pledging to bring them back to life, the question arises: Who will be entrusted with the responsibility to lead?
The answer must not be based on political loyalty, patronage, or tribal balancing. Instead, appointments must be guided by merit, experience, ethical standards, and public credibility. The men and women selected to sit on these boards and commissions must have verifiable track records of integrity and competence—not just in theory but in practice.
For example, placing a seasoned educationist at the helm of AKSUBEB or SSEB could lead to reforms that significantly improve learning outcomes across public schools. A financial expert with no political baggage could help reposition AKIRS to boost internally generated revenue through fair, efficient tax collection. At AKICORP, a technocrat with industry experience could help attract investment into the state’s emerging industrial and tech sectors.
Governor Umo Eno’s “ARISE Agenda” speaks of accountability, rural development, infrastructure renewal, security, and education. But no agenda—no matter how well-written—will succeed if the boards tasked with implementation are filled with incompetent or compromised individuals.
This is why the process of selecting board members must be transparent, inclusive, and participatory. Civil society groups, professional bodies, and local communities should have a say in who gets appointed. Performance metrics should be introduced, and terms should not be indefinite or recycled out of convenience.
The people of Akwa Ibom are watching. They deserve institutions that work—ones that are responsive, efficient, and genuinely focused on public interest. Anything less would be a disservice to the progress the state has made in recent years and a betrayal of the promise of good governance.
Reinvigorating these boards with men of proven integrity is not just the right thing to do—it is the only path for redeeming the state from being plunged by a few into chaos and bad governance.
