Akwa Ibom Budget Mystery: Doubled Deputy Governor’s Lodge Painting Raises Questions

Secrets Reporters

SecretsReporters has uncovered a potential irregularity in the Akwa Ibom State Government’s 2024 Approved Budget, specifically within the Capital Expenditure by Project section. Our investigation revealed the inclusion of two seemingly identical projects requesting funds for “Painting of the Deputy Governor’s Lodge.”

While both projects fall under the Office of the Deputy Governor and share the same administrative code, discrepancies exist. First, the project titles differ slightly, with one specifying “Uyo” and the other omitting it. Secondly, the budget allocations differ significantly, with one project seeking N4,630,000 and the other demanding N10,500,000, nearly double the amount.

Furthermore, our research confirms the existence of only one official Deputy Governor’s Lodge in the state. This raises concerns about the potential for duplicate funding or budget padding within the allocated N849.97 billion budget.

The State Governor Umo Eno signed the 2024 budget into law in December 2023, authorizing spending of N849.97 billion. This move came amidst the governor’s pledge to ramp up the state’s revenue generation capabilities.

The final budget amount represents a modest increase from the initial proposal of N845.63 billion, reflecting adjustments made during legislative deliberations. However, concerns linger about the state’s ability to adequately fund the budget, given its reliance on volatile oil revenue.

Governor Eno highlighted the need for enhanced revenue generation during the signing ceremony, acknowledging the challenges ahead. Transparency and responsible spending will be crucial as the state navigates this delicate economic landscape.

SecretsReporters contacted the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Deputy Governor to clarify the duplicate projects. However, no official response has been received at the time of publication.

The two entries related to “Painting of Deputy Governor’s Lodge,” raising concerns about potential irregularities

Project Name: Painting of Deputy Governor’s Lodge Uyo

Full Program Code and Program Level Description: 13100124004000 – Reform of Government and Governance – General

Administrative Code and Description: 011100100202 – OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR, GOVERNMENT HOUSE – OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR

2023 Original Budget: 4,000,000.00

2023 Revised Budget: 4,000,000.00

2023 Performance January to September: –

2024 Proposed Budget: 4,630,000.00

2024 Approved Budget: 4,630,000.00

Project Name: Painting of the Deputy Governor’s Lodge

Full Program Code and Program Level Description: 13100124004200 – Reform of Government and Governance – General

Administrative Code and Description: 011100100202 – OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR, GOVERNMENT HOUSE – OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR

2023 Original Budget: –

2023 Revised Budget: –

2023 Performance January to September: –

2024 Proposed Budget: 10,500,000.00

2024 Approved Budget: 10,500,000.00