AKHA Takes Up ₦695bn Supplementary Budget as Otobong Bob rallies lawmakers’ support as bill scales second reading

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly on Tuesday considered a supplementary budget of ₦695 billion for the 2025 fiscal year, as the bill passed its second reading at plenary.

Presenting the bill, the Leader of Government Business and member representing Nsit Ubium State Constituency, Rt. Hon. (Barr.) Otobong Bob, urged lawmakers to give their full backing to the proposal, which was transmitted to the Assembly by Governor Umo Eno through an executive communication.

Bob explained that the supplementary budget is designed to provide additional funding for expenditure areas not captured in the 2025 appropriation law. He noted that the package comprises ₦125 billion in recurrent expenditure and ₦569 billion in capital expenditure, raising the state’s total revised budget size to ₦1.65 trillion.

“The essence of this proposed supplementary budget is to enable government allocate funds to pressing needs, including new commitments and ongoing projects impacted by inflation,” he said.

According to the Majority Leader, the budget will prioritize implementation of the new minimum wage for state workers, completion of ongoing infrastructural projects, flood and erosion control, procurement of CNG-powered mass transit buses, and support for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members.

A breakdown of the proposal showed 31 recurrent augmentations and five savings across ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs). Key ministries such as Economic Planning, Humanitarian Affairs, Finance, Agriculture, Housing and Youth Development recorded higher recurrent provisions, while capital reallocations were made from 48 MDAs to 23 MDAs, with significant funding channelled to Health, Environment, Works, Tourism, Transport, and Housing.

Bob argued that the supplementary budget underscores the Umo Eno administration’s focus on wealth creation, healthcare, infrastructure, transportation, tourism, housing and youth development.

The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong, committed the bill to the Committee on Appropriation and Finance for further legislative scrutiny and report. The Assembly is expected to reconvene on Tuesday, October 7, 2025.

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