A SaharaReporters’ review of the Akwa-Ibom 2025 budget has shown that a sum of N1billion is planned to be spent on purchase of motor vehicles for the House of Assembly members.
According to the details on the document, the money is earmarked for purchase and maintenance of 26 vehicles for the lawmakers.
Another sum of N324 million was budgeted for purchase of six vehicles for units/departmental heads in the state House of Assembly.
A sum of N90 million is budgeted for vehicles meant staff handling committee works and sensitive duties.
A sum of N78 million was budgeted for the purchase of Prado Jeep for the Speaker of the House of Assembly.
While the state budgeted N1 billion for twenty-six lawmakers vehicles, no amount was budgeted for capital expenditure of the ministry of agricultural and rural development.
The state sports ministry capital expenditure stood at N800 million, the capital expenditure of the state secondary education board stood at N100 million, only N200 million was budgeted for the state’s technical schools board capital expenditure.
The Akwa Ibom water company limited had a budget of N80 million.
With N1 billion meant to be spent on vehicles for twenty-six persons, only N1.2 billion was budgeted for capital expenditure of the ministry of water resources and sanitation for the 2025 fiscal year. Of this amount the Akwa Ibom state rural water supply and sanitation agency budget stood at N100million.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics multidimensional poverty index, 70% of households in Akwa Ibom lack access to sanitary facilities.
Another 64% lack access to clean drinking water, per the NBS data.
Just before this report, a Cholera outbreak was said to have been recorded in Akwa Ibom state, leading to loss of lives.
There have been concerns on prudence in management of funds by state governments across the country.
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