By Shadrach Okon
The government of Akwa Ibom State under the leadership of Pastor Umo Bassey Eno spent a total sum of N270.1million for furniture items comprising, television sets, refrigerators, Air-conditioners and cupboards in 2024 fiscal year.
This was revealed in the 2024 budget performance report published by the state government.
A break down of the 2024, budget performance report which covers government expenditures for the first and second quarter(January to September) of 2024 fiscal year, reveals that Akwa Ibom State Government spent the sum of N215.135milion to purchase Safes/File Cabinets/ Cupboards, while the sum of 20 million was spent to purchase television sets in government offices.
Equally, the state government spent N20, million to procure Air-conditioners and the sum of N15 million for refrigerators respectively.
Interestingly, the 2024 budget performance report reveals that the state government provided zero funding for libraries and laboratories in public schools, though the sum of N7.155million was captured for the project in the 2024 approved budget.
The Guide Newspaper reports that N7.155million budgetary allocation for libraries and laboratories in public schools in 2024 budget marked over 70 % reduction in the amount that was budgeted for the same project in 2023 which was N29.8million.
Also, the Guide Newspaper observed that though the sum of N300, 000 was captured in the 2024 revised budget for School Safety, the budget performance report reveals that government provided zero funding for the programme in 2024.
It would be recalled that during the last EXCO briefing organized by Akwa Ibom State Government, an elder statesman and a former minster of Housing in Nigeria, Hon. Ndueso Essien, had urged the state government to take urgent action against repeated cases of raping and sexual abuse in public schools in Akwa Ibom State.
The budget performance report also exposed the state government’s failure to implement the Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) policy of the federal government in public schools within the State.
The 2024 budget performance report reveals that Akwa Ibom State Government provided zero funding for the programme though the sum of N1.5million was captured in the approved budget for implementation of Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in public schools.
Meanwhile, a close appraisal of the 2025 approved budget reveals that Akwa Ibom State Government failed to make any budgetary allocation for implementation of Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) policy in public schools in the State.
According to 2022 United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) report, millions of girls globally miss school with serve social and economic consequences due to lack of adequate facilities for menstrual hygiene in public schools.
It would also be recalled that on January 19, 2025, Akwa Ibom State Government in a press statement signed by Dr Patrick Essiet, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health announced the outbreak of Cholera in Akwa Ibom State with fatalities in Emeroke community of Eastern Obolo LGA.
