2023 Budget: State2State Holds Budget Consultation Meeting with LG Stakeholders in Uyo Senatorial District

By Ekemini Simon

With the aim to identify key areas to be included in the 2023 local government budgets in Akwa Ibom State and ensure its successful implementation, the State Accountability, Transparency and Effectiveness (State2State) Activity, a project of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has held a consultation meeting with select local government stakeholders in Uyo Senatorial District of Akwa Ibom State.

The consultation meeting for Uyo Senatorial District which took place today, Monday, September 19 in Uyo had stakeholders from Uyo, Itu and Ibesikpo Asutan local government areas.

The stakeholders included local government councilors, executives and staff of the local government, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and the civil society organisations.

In his welcome remarks, the State Team Lead (STL) of the Activity, Mr. Borve Paago-Imabel noted that State2State in collaboration with the State Fiscal Responsibility Board, is holding a 3-day consultative meeting with key LGA/Community groups to collate inputs, thus ensure that citizens voices and community needs are captured in the 2023 State and LGA Budgets as appropriated.

He said this will take place in the three senatorial districts of the state and will involve the seven focal local government areas of State2State Activity in Akwa Ibom State which are Uyo, Itu, Ibesikpo Asutan, Ikono, Obot Akara, Oron and Onna.

While describing the activity as the first of its kind, Paago-Imabel commended the government of Akwa Ibom State for the ability to implement key reforms since the commencement of State2State Activity in Akwa Ibom State.

He added “We are optimistic that working with you will bring positive results in reforms at the level of local government.

“I see hope and commitment in the participants pushing for the implementation of the projects chosen here. We are grateful to the Council Chairmen and staff of councils for their participation.”

The State Team Lead who charged participants to take the activity serious noted that next year, State2State will cease their direct support for local governments but will rather watch them drive the process. 

Speaking on behalf of Participants, the Village Head of Attan Offot in Uyo, His Royal Highness , Eteidung Idongesit Ekong thanked State2State for facilitating the meeting, describing it as an eye opener.

He said “Until now, we never knew that people should gather to make contributions on their budgets. The practice has always been from top to the bottom. 

” We are delighted over the deliberations we have had and we have seen how best to prioritise our needs in budget. We will follow this pattern onward and also press forward to see its implementation.”

Earlier,Mrs Munachi Odunlana, CE-CB Specialist of State2State offered insight to the fact that the State2State Activity has three specific sub-purposes, which are increased efficiency of sub national government operations: strengthening governance systems (with a focus on public financial management PFM and procurement, as well as monitoring and evaluation) related to the delivery of services in the key sectors of basic education, primary health care, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).

Others are improved sub-national government responsiveness to citizen needs/CSO engagement, increasing government ability to respond to citizen needs and priorities; and improved sub-national capacity to manage conflict through work on prevention, mitigation and reconciliation with sectoral partners.

Meanwhile, the Director General, Akwa Ibom State Fiscal Responsibility Board, Victor Edet took the participants on ” Budget Consultation by the State Government”.