Fiscal discipline, revenue diversification critical for sustainable development – Gov Umo Eno

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has emphasized on the need for states and local governments to embrace fiscal discipline and revenue diversification to achieve sustainable development.

The Governor stated this while delivering a public lecture on the theme: “Leading Economic Development in Sub-Nationals of the Nigerian Federation: The ARISE Agenda,” at the University of Uyo.

He noted that the ARISE Agenda was borne out of the desire to grow the economy while developing abundant human resources in the State, focuses on eight lofty goals including; Poverty reduction, Job creation, Price stability,sustainable economic growth, improved standard of living, environmental sustainability, highly educated, healthy and skilled people, and the Security of lives and property

He further explained that the ARISE Agenda, a flagship economic blueprint that guides his administration’s development efforts, is an acronym for ‘five-group aspirations’: Agricultural Revolution, Tourism Development and Environmental Management; Rural Development, Women & Youth Empowerment; Infrastructural Maintenance and Advancement; Security Management, Sound Educational and Health Sector Management; and Economic, Industrial and Social Advancement

The Governor said that since the inception of his administration, wastages in government have been minimized, and the government is determined to expand its revenue base by digitalization of government operations.

“Soon, we will launch AKWAGIS, a digital platform where we will be collecting ground rent, which as we speak is in the region of N16 billion. Through this platform, we will be able to seamlessly offer Certificates of Occupancy, which would help attract businesses to our State. We are also investing heavily in the tourism sector that has been variously described as the “New Black Gold.” From agricultural tourism, through our Ibom Model Farm, to medical tourism, with our planned Ibom International Medical Centre – a 200-bed hospital that will come with 24 different departments under one roof. This hospital, once completed, will compare to any such facility anywhere in the world.

“The ARISE Resort, which we hope to commission in the first half of this year, the International Conference Centre, the Ibom Tropicana Hotel, which we are poised to complete will signpost our ascendancy as the tourism hub of our nation and bring in billions of Naira in revenue. We remain committed to the growth and expansion of Ibom Air and work is ongoing in the Aviation Village, as part of our investments in the aviation eco- system. We are committed to the human capital development of our people and this has been acknowledged by the Federal Government and the World Bank, leading to the launch two days ago, of the Human Capital Development Strategic Plan by the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON.

“We have achieved a success rate of 3.5% out of school children, against the national average of 25.6% – a truly remarkable feat. We are positioning our State for growth beyond oil by these strategic investments in tourism and human capital development,” he said.

In his remarks, the President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio applauded the Governor for his inclusive leadership disposition which according to him has engendered unprecedented peace and security in the State.