AN OPEN LETTER TO HIS EXCELLENCY DEACON UDOM EMMANUEL, GOVERNOR, AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA
Precisely on the 1st of may 2020 by 12noon, the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State Government His Excellency Deacon UDOM Emmanuel Inaugurated a 20 man Akwa Ibom State POST COVID-19 ECONOMIC reconstruction team headed by Prof AKPAN H. EKPO.
The aim of this committee was to come up with recommendations on how to boost our economy when lockdown has been eased.
These were part of the recommendations contained in the 142 page report submitted to Governor Udom Emmanuel at the Government House, Uyo, the state capital.
Headed by Akpan Hogan Ekpo, an economist and former vice chancellor of the University of Uyo, the committee also recommended a state bureau of statistics; investment in agriculture value chain; full autonomy for the state internal revenue service; social reorientation for the people and a no tolerance for cultism.
“To reduce cost of governance, the committee recommended that the governor should reduce his number of advisers and aides.
“The committee recommended that the state should activate quick revenue sources including carbon tax, levy on telecommunication masts, and automated vehicle.’’
The committee further recommended the completion of Ibom Science Park, a project initiated by the Attah administration between 1999 and 2007 in which more than 90 percent of the funds had been released according to government white paper but it was later abandoned. The Udom administration has relaunched the project with significant modifications and contract awarded to a Chinese firm to be known as science and technology park.
The committee particularly noted that crude oil which is currently the state’s highest source of revenue would not sustain the state economy in future, hence its recommended investment in agriculture, industries and services.
“The future of the state economy is without oil. Agriculture, industries and services should form the cornerstone of the state economy going forward. The Government should be commended for her efforts so far.”
“We can industrialize and diversify the state economy, create jobs, reduce poverty, have shared prosperity through the identified sectors. The real opportunities exist in expanding the value chain in agriculture. In this regard, we have suggested and made contacts with investors interested in the agricultural sector of the state.”
The report says, “to reduce the cost of governance, there is need to streamline the number of special advisers, special assistants, and personal assistants to allow for efficiency and efficacy as well as eliminate duplication with the main ministries, agencies, and departments. In the same vein, it is necessary to streamline the number of boards.”
“There is paucity of relevant data on the state. It is important to establish a State Bureau of Statics to ensure that policy pronouncements are evidence-based.”
“The State needs an Economic Advisory Council to assist in the conceptualization, formulation, and implementation of government policies. Such exercise would be evidence-based. It would not only advice government but would also serve as a think tank.
“The state should have a ‘reserve fund’ – an agreed percentage from federal allocation should be deposited into the fund to meet unforeseen circumstances as well as save for a rainy day. The fund should be invested and should have strict conditions for withdrawal.
“Efforts must be made to complete the Science and Technology Park. It will create jobs, increase government revenue and would become the Silicon Valley for the nation. “The government must continue to fight cultism. The law against cultism is in order. Government must ensure that cultism is made unattractive for everyone in the state. Specifically, government should wield the big stick by prosecuting cultists, government should not appoint any known cultist into any office in the state, government officials who are known members of a cult group should be given opportunity to openly denounce or be removed from office and the reason for their removal made public.
“The government must continue to fight cultism. The law against cultism is in order. Government must ensure that cultism is made unattractive for everyone in the state. Specifically, government should wield the big stick by prosecuting cultists, government should not appoint any known cultist into any office in the state, government officials who are known members of a cult group should be given opportunity to openly denounce or be removed from office and the reason for their removal made publISSUE
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NOW MY TAKE ON THIS ISSUE
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Your excellency Sir, it is pertinent to implement the reports of this committee else the very aim of setting up this committee of noble Akwa Ibom state sons and daughters and their recommendations will be in vain.
Secondly, Your Excellency, there has been rumours lately flying round the state that you intend to cut the salaries of civil servants in the state. If this is true, I’ll suggest that his Excellency should consider the reports of this committee especially in reducing the number of SAs in your cabinet. The recently appointed 150 aides on project monitoring and other matters is too much especially with the dwindling oil prices and the effects that it has in our economy bearing in mind that Nigeria vis a vis Akwa Ibom state is totally over dependent on oil for survival.
In as much as I am not against my brothers and sisters who has been found capable of these appointments, neither am I also against the decisions of his excellency the governor, I am of the opinion that the welfare and general well being of an average Akwa Ibomites should be made priority in such trying times when hunger is ravaging the land.
OPEN LETTER TO DEACON UDOM EMMANUEL TEAM HEADED BY Prof AKPAN H. EKPO
My name is Akwa Nta Effiong from ibesikpo Asutan, I just want to make a common sense and I came in peace!
