By SUNNY EDEMENANG – South-South
The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, PhD has presented to the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly the sum of N1.39 trillion budget proposal for the 2026 appropriation year.
The budget, tagged, “People’s Budget of Expansion and Growth”, is designed to drive economic growth, improve infrastructure, and enhance the quality of life for Akwa Ibom residents. It was conceived from the rigorous stakeholders engagements across the ten Federal Constituencies, reflecting the aspirations and priorities of the citizens.
The governor’s choice to build the budget on imputs from the 31 Local government Areas, makes the budget to be uniquely, a budget of the people, by the people and for the people. It therefore calls for all hands on deck to collaborate with the government in translate it to tangible budget that would improve the quality of life of the people.
Out of the total budget outlay of N1.39 trillion for the 2026 fiscal year, government places high premium in capital development as highlighted below.
Total budget: ₦1.39 trillion
Recurrent expenditure: ₦354.867 billion (25% of the total budget)
Capital expenditure: ₦1.035 trillion (75% of the total budget)
Under the capital appropriations,
Roads and infrastructure gulps ₦387.5 billion,
– Health: ₦136.1 billion
– Education: ₦31.6 billion
– Enterprise fund for rural entrepreneurship, job creation, and SME acceleration: ₦31 has billion.
Key areas of the budget focus are on;
– Strengthening food security and sufficiency through mechanized agriculture and value chain promotion.
– Improving living conditions in rural areas.
– Completing ongoing flagship infrastructure projects.
– Supporting MSMEs and promoting economic diversification.
– Investing in human capital development and social inclusion.
– Renewable energy projects and waste-to-wealth initiatives.
For effective funding of the 2026 budget, the state expects a Recurrent Revenue Projections of ₦1.17 trillion, made up of Capital receipts: ₦791.978 billion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund and ₦243.155 billion from other capital sources.
As disclosed by the Finance Commissioner, Emem Bob, government had as at November 2026, freed up financial space for the 2026 budget by fully liquidating all inherited commercial bank debts.
The Speaker’s pledge for critical oversight and collaboration also signals a healthy democratic environment. When the executive and legislature are aligned on development goals, as they currently appear to be, projects move faster, implementation improves, and citizens benefit more fully.
