USAID/State2State Trains Akwa Ibom State Assembly, Priority MDAs for Improved Service Delivery in Second half of 2024

By Ekemini Simon
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) State Accountability, Transparency and Effectiveness (State2State) Activity in Akwa Ibom State has concluded its quarterly budget performance review between the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and Priority Ministries Departments and Agencies in Akwa Ibom State towards improved service delivery in the State.
The review which held at Sheraton’s Four Point Hotel, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State between August 7-9, 2024 witnessed a workshop that strengthened the capacity of the State House of Assembly to manage budget performance review, track and analyse budget implementation results, review the State’s mid-year (January-June 2024) budget implementation progress in health, education, and Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sectors with a view to ensure improved service delivery in the remaining quarters of 2024.
The workshop also trained the State Assembly members to track Community Need Projects across constituencies in the state, document key achievements of the 2024 budget so far, identify and discuss key challenges, lessons and make recommendations for successful implementation of sectoral budgets of the priority sectors in the second half of the year including Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) responsive projects.
In his keynote address, the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Udeme Otong noted that the 8th Assembly’s resolve to ensure absolute compliance to the 2024 budget is evident in various visits to ongoing project sites, constant engagement with MDAs to ensure effective discharge of their statutory functions as stipulated in the 2024 budget.

The Speaker said the Assembly under his watch has championed accountability evidenced in the recent visit by the Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to all the Local Government Areas in the State.
Otong said this visit was to assess first-hand the scorecards of the Transition Chairmen before assenting to the request of the Governor, for tenure renewal.
He mentioned other oversight efforts to include inspection of Ibom Icon Hotels & Golf Resorts, to assess the operations, financing and expenditure on the hotel, the Four Points by Sheraton hotel, and the 21 Storey Smart Complex.
The Speaker said the House through the committee on Finance and Appropriation also conducted budget performance appraisal for 1st Quarter of 2024 and various committees have engaged on on-the-spot assessment to evaluate the extent of work done by MDAs.
Otong thanked the USAID/State2State for the various reforms it has brought to Akwa Ibom State particularly the training it has provided to the State Assembly noting that ” USAID/State2State has been a background inspiration, encouraging us to do exactly what we ought to do.”
He assured that on the part of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, they will continue to support and facilitate the work of USAID in the State and most importantly sustain the initiative of engaging with the MDAs.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the State2State Team Lead, Borve Paago-Imabel commended the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly over its oversight efforts after the Oversight responsibility training held in March.

He said reforms will be sustained and good governance celebrated when the State Assembly which represents the people is highly responsive.
While noting that across the world there have been agitations for improved governance, Paago-Imabel said although Akwa Ibom State has been peaceful due to what he described as responsible and responsive governance, there is urgent need for improved service delivery especially across the health, education and WASH sector.
The State Team Lead who called for sustainable governance reforms charged the State Legislature to engage the Executive where gaps are noticed during the discussions with the MDAs at the workshop towards increased budget releases to improve service delivery.