By Julius Nsikak
As the third day of its statewide oversight tour drew to a close, the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs extended its inspection to Ibeno, Esit Eket and Eket Local Government Councils, where it assessed ongoing and completed projects aimed at improving the lives of people at the grassroots.
Leading the delegation was the Committee Chairman and member representing Etim Ekpo/Ika State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Mfon Idung, whose message remained consistent throughout the exercise, “ the oversight tour is designed to uncover, not cover up, the true state of governance at the local government level”.
According to him, the Assembly has no intention of shielding poor performance or withholding commendation where it is deserved. Rather, the exercise is intended to ensure that public funds are translated into visible, measurable development capable of delivering the true dividends of democracy to the people.
“We have nothing to cover up. If you do well, we will commend you openly, and if you fall short, we will say so and encourage you to do better. There is money in the local government councils, and it must be prudently utilised to improve the lives of the people at the grassroots.
I commend the chairmen of councils visited so far for the evidence of development we have seen. Every ongoing project should be completed within the schedule and executed to the required standard,” he said.
For a committee entrusted with scrutinising how local government allocations are converted into development, the visit to Ibeno Local Government Council presented a refreshing experience, with visible projects offering tangible evidence of public investment.
The committee applauded the Chairman of Ibeno Local Government Council, Hon. Glory Eka Effiong, after inspecting a series of projects described as people centred, impactful and reflective of prudent financial management.
Rt. Hon. Idung observed that the projects aligned with the ARISE Agenda by improving public infrastructure and enhancing the welfare of residents across the council area.
Among the projects inspected were the newly constructed administrative complex, a solar powered borehole at Ibeno Market, compassionate homes built for vulnerable indigenes in Okorutip, an ultra modern market and the fully equipped Patience Umo Eno Health Centre at Iwuokpom.
The lawmakers also visited ongoing projects, including the reconstruction of a collapsed perimeter fence, construction of drainage systems, rehabilitation of the access road within the Ibeno Security Village and the construction of a perimeter fence at the Upenekang Police Station. The committee equally acknowledged several completed and commissioned projects spread across the council.
Commending the warm reception accorded to the delegation, the committee encouraged the council to sustain its development drive, stressing that the success of local government autonomy would ultimately be measured by the quality and impact of projects delivered to the people rather than the volume of allocations received.
At Esit Eket Local Government Council, the committee was equally impressed by what it described as an exceptional performance by the chairman, Mrs. Uduak Ikemesit Ikot.
The committee noted that her administration had prioritised programmes directly affecting the lives of residents through investments in education, youth empowerment, security and social welfare.
Among the initiatives highlighted were the distribution of school uniforms, exercise books and learning materials to primary school pupils, educational grants for law graduates, skills acquisition programmes accompanied by grants of five hundred thousand naira to beneficiaries, ICT training for youths, landscaping of the council secretariat, provision of a security vehicle to security agencies, distribution of wheelchairs to persons with disabilities, furnishing of offices within the secretariat, provision of official vehicles to council officials and the renovation of Ukwo Market.
Rt. Hon. Idung described the projects as life changing interventions that reflected a deliberate commitment to improving the welfare of the people of Esit Eket.
The member representing Ibeno/Esit Eket State Constituency, Hon. Friday Udobia, who accompanied the committee during the inspections, commended the performance of both council chairmen within his constituency.
He assured the committee that every ongoing project would receive the necessary attention to ensure timely completion and adherence to approved standards.
“My constituency is intentional about driving development to completion. I am confident that every project will be executed responsibly, monitored effectively and delivered in line with the required specifications,” he said.
The committee’s final stop for the day was Eket Local Government Council, where the Chairman, Rt. Hon. Akaninyene Tommy, showcased projects undertaken by his administration across agriculture, infrastructure, sports, youth development and economic empowerment.
Among the projects presented was the establishment of a large scale farming operation on a five hectare site behind the Health Centre in Effoi Village, where cassava, oil palm and other crops have been cultivated to promote food security and agricultural sustainability.
The committee also inspected infrastructure projects, including the completed Eket Unity Hall, a five thousand capacity multipurpose facility initiated by the previous administration and completed by the present chairman, lock up shops at Eket Main Park, the ongoing remodelling and modernisation of the local government secretariat, the construction of the Eket Legislative Smart Complex and the grading of roads across villages in all the wards.
In sports development, the chairman highlighted the annual sponsorship of the Eket Chairman’s Cup, a month-long football competition that provides young talents across the wards with an opportunity to showcase their abilities.
His administration also distributed fifty million naira in grants to small and medium scale businesses and facilitated specialised training for youths in oil and gas related certification programmes.
Reacting to the performance of the council, the member representing Eket State Constituency, Hon. Nsidibe Akata, expressed satisfaction with the developmental strides recorded by the administration.
He encouraged the chairman to sustain the momentum by initiating more people oriented projects while ensuring that available public funds are utilised transparently and effectively for the benefit of residents.
Bringing the day’s inspection to a close, Rt. Hon. Idung reiterated that the committee’s findings from all thirty one local government councils would be comprehensively documented and presented to the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong, before being forwarded to Governor Pastor Umo Eno for review.
For the committee, the message remained unmistakable, local government autonomy carries with it a corresponding obligation to demonstrate accountability, transparency and visible development.
As the tour progresses across the remaining councils, the Assembly continues to insist that every allocation must leave behind evidence of progress in the communities it is meant to serve.
