31/10/2025
Governor Umo Eno, Prudent Fiscal Management and the Promise of a Greater Akwa Ibom
By Lucy Daniel
In an era when many sub-national governments struggle with poor planning and unsustainable spending, Akwa Ibom State stands out as a shining example of how prudent management of public funds can translate into real progress for citizens.
The recently released 2025 Third Quarter Budget Performance Report by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning paints a picture of financial discipline, strategic foresight, and purpose-driven governance. With an impressive 86.9 percent implementation rate as of the third quarter, the report reaffirms Governor Umo Eno’s commitment to building a sustainable and transparent economy anchored on his ARISE Agenda.
From January to September 2025, Akwa Ibom recorded a total revenue inflow of ₦1.27 trillion, ₦818.1 billion from the Federation Account, ₦79.05 billion from internally generated revenue, and ₦375.69 billion carried forward from unspent funds of 2024. Beyond the numbers, what truly stands out is the management philosophy behind them: every kobo is being made to count.
The government’s expenditure pattern tells a compelling story of balance and foresight. Out of the ₦830.2 billion spent within the same period, ₦103.15 billion went to personnel costs, including pensions and gratuities, demonstrating care for workers and retirees. Another ₦128.08 billion covered essential recurrent costs, while the lion’s share, ₦598.98 billion, was directed toward capital projects, roads, schools, health facilities, and other infrastructure that will define the State’s future.
This deliberate emphasis on capital investment shows that Akwa Ibom is not merely spending to maintain government, but investing to sustain growth. It is the kind of budgeting that builds roads and bridges, powers communities, supports agriculture, and opens up the rural economy for enterprise and inclusion.
As the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Nsikan Linus Nkan, noted during the presentation of the report, “Every naira spent must deliver tangible value to the people of Akwa Ibom State.” This principle of value-based budgeting is what differentiates the Umo Eno administration, one that not only allocates resources but tracks their impact on lives and livelihoods.
With a healthy ₦369.8 billion balance going into the last quarter of the year, the State is not running on debt but on discipline. This fiscal position has also made room for the recently approved supplementary budget, expanding the 2025 fiscal plan to ₦1.65 trillion. The supplementary allocation, according to the government, will scale up ongoing infrastructure, education, health, and agricultural projects, critical investments that are already reshaping the development landscape of the State.
What makes Akwa Ibom’s model particularly instructive is its openness. Quarterly budget reports, public briefings, and transparent spending practices have made the State one of the most accountable and fiscally responsible in Nigeria. As the Commissioner for Information, Hon. Aniekan Umanah, observed, regular public reporting is a “hallmark of open governance.” In a country where citizens often wonder how public funds are used, Akwa Ibom is showing that accountability and progress can indeed coexist.
The results are already visible. Across the State, there are new roads linking rural communities to markets, modern schools rising in local councils, improved healthcare delivery, and an agricultural renaissance driven by targeted investment. These are not coincidences, they are the resultant effects of prudent fiscal management and leadership that plans with the people in mind.
As Nigeria continues to battle economic headwinds, Akwa Ibom’s experience offers a valuable national lesson: development is not about how much money comes in, but how wisely it is managed. Governor Umo Eno’s approach, one that balances fiscal discipline with human-centered investment, is gradually turning Akwa Ibom into a reference point for sustainable governance.
The State is well on its way to achieving not just budgetary success, but a legacy of prosperity built on transparency, accountability, and enduring impact.
Daniel, SA to the Governor on Media
writes from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State
[email protected].
