USAID State2State, Stakeholders Decry Akwa Ibom Government’s Neglect of Social Sectors in Budget Prioritization
By Ndifreke Jacob
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) State Accountability, Transparency, and Effectiveness (State2State) Activity, alongside stakeholders from Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), expressed dismay over the Akwa Ibom State government’s failure to prioritize the social sector, despite its significant promises regarding social inclusion.
Stakeholders voiced their concerns during the Akwa Ibom State CSOs’ Coordination Meeting (FY4-Q4) on Wednesday, February 28, 2023, at Uranus House, Uyo. The meeting aimed to review the progress and achievements of CSOs operating in the state.
They observed that the State government’s policy direction aimed at addressing citizens’ needs has not translated into significant budget allocations for critical sectors such as Health, Education, and WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene). Instead, priority funding in the annual budget is directed towards elitist projects, which do not align with the citizens’ yearnings or concerns.
The Stakeholders decried the abysmal provisions, noting that a closer examination of the 2024 budget revealed inadequate allocations to crucial social sectors. Education received only 8.2% of the budget, while Health and WASH received 4.3% and 0.6%, respectively, in contrast to economic sectors which received significantly higher allocations, ranging from 50% to 80%.
They argued that this disproportionate allocation reflects a misalignment of government priorities and exacerbates social disparities. Stakeholders underscored the importance of aligning budgetary allocations with the needs of citizens to bridge social and economic gaps.
Amidst the disheartening revelations, stakeholders identified several citizens’ nominated projects through the Citizens’ Charter Demands (CCD) that were successfully included in the 2024 budget, ranging from infrastructure development to inclusive education projects.
Some of the CCD projects captured in the 2024 budget include, construction of Usakka Atan Ibong road (Obot Akara LGA), construction of road from Ikot Efak – Ikot Ayakang – Akpautong (Esit Eket), construction of 3 inclusive schools for children with disabilities in the three senatorial districts, construction of road and bridges in Idua Afaha (Oron), Federal Housing road and Lutheran road (Ikot Abasi), amongst others.
Earlier in her remarks, Munachiso Odulana, the State2State Citizens Engagement/Capacity Building Specialist, stressed the critical need for regular evaluations of CSOs’ activities and their impact on budget formulation. Odulana underscored the imperative of advocating for gender and social inclusion, highlighting the importance of amplifying the voices of marginalized groups within budgetary discussions.
Odulana underscored the imperative of advocating for gender and social inclusion, highlighting the importance of amplifying the voices of marginalized groups within budgetary discussions.
Speaking on the critical issue of Water Sanitation, Odulana revealed insightful details regarding the transition from Akwa Ibom Water Company Limited to Akwa Ibom Water Corporation.
The State2State Engagement Specialist said “The MD Water company also mentioned that, maybe this is another area that we need to carry out advocacy on the transition from Akwa Ibom Water company limited to Akwa Ibom Water Corporation. There need to be some processes for that transition to take place, moving from company back to Corporation. He said they’re on the process but it’s been on for a while which is part of the implementation of the Water Resources Law.
However, there is a need for us CSOs to carry out some advocacies to speed up that process. Also on the releases, they said they’re engaging with the State Budget Office to access funds to wrap up the project,” she added.
In Primary Healthcare, Odulana revealed there’s been an update in the recruitment of 150 retired midwives and nurses who were trained and deployed to various health centers across the State, as a means to alleviate staffing constraints within primary health facilities, and provide comprehensive healthcare services across the State.
Addressing the inclusion of women’s and Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) needs in the state’s approved 2024 budget, Gender and Social Inclusion Specialist, Miss Joy Ubong highlighted concerted actions undertaken by the government through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare.
The GESI Specialist pointed out that efforts have been made to engage with PWDs in the State, including the adoption of a Baseline Survey of Persons with Disabilities, with a budgetary allocation of 5 million naira earmarked in the 2024 budget.
Additionally, Joy who noted that the Ministry is currently in the process of collecting data, opined that the baseline survey is aimed at providing valuable insights to arm government with the right knowledge when planning for PWDs, establish a comprehensive database of PWDs, assess their educational levels as well as inform planning processes for the 2025 budget.
Moving forward, the CSOs unanimously resolved to foster a harmonious relationship by collaborating in groups to amplify pertinent issues, rather than operating individually. They stressed the need for quarterly actions and analyses to ensure continuous monitoring and evaluation of progress.
They also stressed the need for intensified advocacy regarding the low budget performance of the social sector and suggested the inclusion of a lined item for budget reports to enhance transparency and accountability in budget implementation.