Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has formally signed into law the 2026 Appropriation Bill, approving a total budget of N1,584,271,856,630 for the fiscal year.
The budget is structured to prioritise development and service delivery, with N416,594,925,850 allocated to recurrent expenditure, covering personnel costs and overheads, while a significantly larger sum of N1,167,676,930,780 is set aside for capital expenditure to fund infrastructure, economic expansion, and social development projects across the state.
The signing ceremony took place during an enlarged meeting of the State Executive Council at the Executive Council Chambers, Government House, where Governor Eno praised the harmonious working relationship between the Executive Arm and the State House of Assembly. He described the collaboration as instrumental to the progress recorded in Akwa Ibom over the past year and expressed confidence that such synergy would continue to drive the state’s development agenda.
Addressing members of the council, the governor charged them to rededicate themselves to effective governance and efficient service delivery. He stressed that the 2026 fiscal year demands commitment, discipline, and a results-driven approach, warning that non-performance would not be tolerated under any guise.
“This year is not a year for excuses; it is a year for action. We must all be prepared to deliver our responsibilities promptly and decisively. Every barrier must be broken, and we must be willing to go the extra mile. When we deliver, we will earn the right to celebrate our achievements and be recognised for our efforts,” the governor stated.
Earlier in his remarks, the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Udeme Otong, commended Governor Eno for his transparent leadership style and inclusive approach to governance. He noted that the Executive’s openness and respect for due process had strengthened legislative–executive relations and enhanced the quality of governance in the state.
Otong disclosed that over 80 per cent of the 2025 budget had been successfully implemented, describing the performance as commendable. He reaffirmed the legislature’s readiness to sustain its cooperation with the Executive Arm to ensure that the objectives of the 2026 budget are fully realised for the benefit of the people.
Following the signing of the budget, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Linus Nkan, briefed journalists on the details of the 2026 fiscal plan. He explained that the budget was initially presented to the State House of Assembly on November 25, 2025, with a proposed size of N1.39 trillion.
According to Nkan, the budget underwent extensive scrutiny during the legislative process, with ministries, departments, and agencies appearing before the House to defend their proposals. As a result of adjustments and revisions made during the defence sessions, the total budget size increased by N194 billion, culminating in the final approved sum of N1.584 trillion.
He further revealed that recurrent expenditure rose from an initial proposal of N354 billion to N416.5 billion, while capital expenditure increased from N1.035 trillion to N1.167 trillion. Nkan expressed optimism that the approved budget would stimulate economic activities, enhance infrastructure development, and accelerate growth across critical sectors of the state’s economy throughout the 2026 fiscal year.
In a related development, Governor Eno presented an Award of Excellence to the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr Anieti Udofia, who emerged as Commissioner of the Year. The governor applauded Udofia’s dedication, creativity, and leadership, which he said were largely responsible for the success of the recently concluded Christmas Unplugged 3.0, an event that attracted wide participation and boosted tourism activities in the state.
As part of the recognition, the governor announced a cash reward of N20 million for the commissioner and approved an additional N100 million for members of the event’s planning committee. He also granted the commissioner a one-week leave in appreciation of his commitment and hard work.
Governor Eno recalled that in November 2025, his administration presented the N1.39 trillion budget proposal for the 2026 financial year, christened “The People’s Budget of Expansion and Growth.” He noted that the approved budget represents a 16 per cent reduction from the revised 2025 budget, a move he attributed to fiscal prudence and a deliberate effort to align government spending with available resources.
The governor expressed confidence that the 2026 budget would consolidate the gains of previous years and further position Akwa Ibom State on a sustainable path of development, economic resilience, and improved welfare for its citizens.
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