USAID State2State Journey in Akwa Ibom State – Year Four in Perspective
By Ekemini Simon
In March 2021, Akwa Ibom State signed up to the State Accountability, Transparency and Effectiveness (State2State) Activity, a five-year governance project of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The project implemented in Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Gombe,Sokoto and recently Kebbi State aims to increase the accountability, transparency and effectiveness in targeted states and local governments in Nigeria with three specific sub-purposes. The purposes 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 heath care, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)), 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 improving government and civil society capacity to manage conflict through work on prevention, mitigation and reconciliation with sectoral partners.
The Activity in Akwa Ibom State is currently in its fourth year (October 2023 through September 2024). What then are the strides recorded so far in year 4 of the activity in Akwa Ibom State?
At the 3-Day Akwa Ibom State State2State 2025 workplan consultative workshop held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on July 16-18, 2024, the State Team Lead, Akwa Ibom State, Borve Paago-Imabel reflected on the interventions of State2State in year four (4) in Akwa Ibom State and tagged it “The Story of Consolidation and sustainability with quantifiable evidence”. But what really is the available evidence for this claim?
Sustained High Level Advocacy- The Results
The Team Lead noted that State2State had engaged in high level advocacy on policies which led to adoption of key policies including the passage of the state
water law in 2023, pushing for Disability Bill (ongoing),preparation of the state and Local Government Areas (LGAs) budget manual and calendar.
He said State2State again consolidated and further supported the review of the state’s financial instructions and finance laws (on-going), preparation and adoption of Akwa Ibom State Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) Expansion Strategy, preparation of the State’s procurement plans, state budget profiles for 2023 and 2024 among others.
State2State had also supported the monitoring and evaluation framework and Policy document all awaiting finalization and ratification by the state partners.
Results in Public Finance Management
Paago-Imabel said now there is institutional ownership of Public Finance Management (PFM) reforms in Akwa Ibom state as legal and regulatory framework leading to emergence of resilient institutions such as the Fiscal Responsibility Board has been strengthened hence pointing to sustainability of PFM reforms post State2State.
He noted that there has been increased co-resourcing of reform activities supporting institutionalization of reforms coupled with the institutionalization of the budget practices in the State.
The State Team Lead further pointed out that the successive inauguration of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) Committee and preparation of the MTEF template, which received a boost in 2024 clearly exemplifies the results achieved towards budget realism as well as sustaining reform practices from State2State.
He expressed delight that there is now State ownership of profiling across all Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the state and it is key to sustainability.
Other gains the State Team Lead identified included efficiency in allocation of resources for increased service delivery through preparation of procurement plans across MDAs in 2024, implementation of the IGR Strategy which has enhanced the revenue generating capacity of the State as exemplified in the N22.2bn IGR generated in the first quarter of 2024.
Results from Citizens Engagement and Capacity Building
The State Team Lead has noted that due to State2State intervention, there has been improved Government responsiveness to citizens demands, inclusion of Citizen-nominated projects (Community Charter of Demands-CCD) in State and Local Government Area budgets.
Other results highlighted are increased capacity in legislative oversight MDAs performance review, increased confidence in the Activity and State2State generally accepted by stakeholders as the hub for governance ideas, ventilation of aspirations and high advocacy on critical issues requiring state government’s attention and increased MDAs capacity to undertake ministerial mandates.
Contributions in conflict management
Paago-Imabel said so far there has been emergence of a strong locally led conflict prevention and mitigation dialogue platform providing safe spaces for
stakeholders to discuss emerging conflict issues in the state and advice on programming and make recommendations of mitigation. This is done at the State2State quarterly conflict prevention and mitigation dialogue.
Results in Local Government Management
The State Team Lead has offered insight to the fact that there is now Local Government Annual Oversight Plan for Service Delivery available to guide service delivery at LGAs even as Akwa Ibom State has now fully operationalized the Local Government Budget Manual and Calendar to guide planning and budgeting processes.
He noted that now there is Citizens’ participation in the budget process supported by a legal framework and that the Ministry of Local Government is taking a lead in Local Government reform processes including public budget consultation and implementation of citizen-nominated projects coupled with adaptation of the National Chapter of Account (NCOA) fully deployed across all Local Government Councils in the Akwa Ibom State.
Co-sourcing Efforts
The State Team Lead said Year 4 has so far witnessed increased co-resourcing of reform interventions by the state supported by the State Transformation Committee through advocacies, the state co-financed. These include; State budget profiling intervention with over 75% funding, the state Accountant General’s Information Technology Pool and refreshment.
Other efforts include the State providing over 80 percent funding for the adaptation of NCOA intervention in the 31 LGAs including venue, materials-laptop and transport reimbursement for participants.
Paago-Imabel said as a result, in the period under review, according to the Nigeria Governors Forum Consultant, Akwa Ibom state became the only state in Nigeria with full adaptation of NCOA at state and LGA levels.
Success story on IGR
State2State said that year four further witnessed the implementation of the IGR expansion strategy as Akwa Ibom State achieved an IGR growth of 28 percent
from N33.42bn in 2022 to N42.65bn in 2023. What is more, Akwa Ibom State collected N22.24bn in the first quarter of 2024 financial year against N60.0bn approved provision for the year. The State Team Lead explained that the first quarter collection in 2024 is more than three times over N6.99bn collected in the last quarter of 2023 financial year.
Success story on Citizens Charter of Demand
Due to State2State intervention, Akwa Ibom state has adopted the Citizens Charter of Demand as Citizens’ nominated projects now form part of the government’s budget in 2023 and 2024 and some are being implemented.
The State Team Lead added ” In addition, the government has extended this culture by initiating 31 citizens’ nominated projects across the 31 LGAs.
These projects cut across education and health (renovation of schools and PHCs), as well as road constructions, and 26 projects have been completed so far.
“The government is currently collecting citizen nominated projects for the Phase 2 of this intervention from the LGAs and communities. Similarly, the state government has embarked on the construction and renovation of PHCs across the state, while WASH sector has received an unprecedented boost in allocation and releases.”
Intervention Gets State Government Buy-in, Acceptance
The tremendous results of State2State Activity in Akwa Ibom State has received remarkable plaudits, buy-in and recognition by the State Government.
For instance, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Akwa Ibom State recently said to State2State “Looking at the results from the project to the state, State2State is a blessing to Akwa Ibom State.” The Commissioner, Ministry of Economic Development, Mr. Emem Bob in his compliments noted ” “State2State has shown consistency. I have had different learning from the project. I am one of you going forward”. The State Commissioner for Finance Dr. Linus Nkan is not left behind in commending State2State for the several reforms brought to Akwa Ibom State. He noted ” I have noticed increased staff productivity among my staff. Your project has enabled them to boost their capacity and now work more efficiently.
” From inception, I used to ask how much you are bringing to us (the state). I was skeptical about the project but I kept faith. Your support to the state led to increased financial reward from the SFTAS programme and we made huge financial gains more than we expected from you”.
What is more, the government’s buy-in to the interventions of State2State have been exemplified through the Governor’s invitation and audience to State2State coupled with that of the State Executive Council.
Attesting to the interventions of State2State in Akwa Ibom State, Governor Umo Eno on April 30 noted “Your team has done so much for the state. We need to meet in a retreat and discuss further. Thank you for the support to the state.”
Also, the Governor, Mr. Umo Eno had directed the participation of his Deputy, Sen. Akon Eyakenyi in State2State’s quarterly event with the House of Assembly.
What is more, State2State intervention such as the 3-Day capacity building workshop with the State Assembly on Budget Performance and Public Finance Management has birthed stronger recognition and partnership with the State Legislature. This has led to increased capacity for legislative oversight functions of the House as recounted by the Speaker.
The State Team Lead said these levels of participation precipitated and increased inter-governmental, and inter-agency collaboration and support in year four.
Way Forward for Sustainability of State2State Interventions
The State2State Activity is scheduled to come to an end in September 2025. The State Team Lead said their interventions can be deepened by the State and Local governments institutionalizing the interventions and taking ownership of what they have done.
He also said there is a need to drive sustainability through mentoring with Civil Society Organisations and called for state resource persons to assume the drivers seat of its interventions. Will these recommendations be taken? The answer lies in the steps again in months to come.