The Akwa Ibom State Government has declared a state of emergency in the health sector, following a comprehensive review of its healthcare development roadmap.
The move is designed to accelerate reforms and deliver more efficient services in line with Governor Umo Eno’s ARISE Agenda.
Briefing journalists after the weekly State Executive Council meeting, Commissioner for Information, Elder Aniekan Umanah, said key directives under the emergency framework include:
Upgrading medical facilities across the state.
Recruiting 2,000 new healthcare workers, with the earlier requirement for voter ID waived.
Upgrading health training institutions and expanding enrollment.
Engaging retired medical personnel on a contract basis.
To oversee implementation, the government has constituted an Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee, drawing membership from relevant ministries and agencies.
Meanwhile, the Council also approved a ₦695 billion supplementary budget, raising the 2025 fiscal plan to ₦1.65 trillion. The revised budget allocates ₦125.6 billion to recurrent expenditure and ₦569.3 billion to capital projects.
According to Umanah, the supplementary budget will cover:
Implementation of the new minimum wage and personnel emoluments.
NYSC allowances for corps members serving within and outside the state.
Flood and erosion control measures.
Completion of ongoing projects affected by inflation.
It will also fund new initiatives, including:
Construction of new infrastructure across the state.
Acquisition of Ibom CNG Mass Transit buses.
Support for newly created ministries such as Sports, Digital Economy, Humanitarian Services, and Rural Development & Cooperatives.
The Tree Crop Revolution programme.
Construction of new housing estates.
Renovation of the House of Assembly complex.
Capital provisions for the acquisition of new aircraft.
Development of the ARISE Shopping City.
The Council meeting was presided over by Governor Eno, with the Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, the Secretary to the State Government, the Head of the Civil Service, commissioners, special advisers, and other senior officials in attendance.
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