By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Udom Emmanuel, said on Monday that he prays God is on the side of the state for more funds to implement the 2022 budget.
He signed the 2022 appropriation bill of N586.9 billion into law on Monday and it covers N261.963 billion of recurrent and N324.918 billion of capital expenditures.
The budget, christened Redefining Standards, was passed by the State House of Assembly on Thursday, December 2, 2021, and it was N4.766 billion or 0.8 per cent higher than the initial estimate of N582.115 billion presented by the Governor on October 25, 2021.
Speaking during an expanded Executive Council meeting, Mr Emmanuel commended the state parliament, Ministry of Finance, Budget Office, Accountant General and other government agencies involved in the budgetary process for its timely passage.
Expressing hope that funds will be available for optimum implementation, he said “we are believing that with God on our side 2022 will be better than 2021.”
The Governor said it became expedient to sign the bill early enough in the week to allow for smooth winding down of the year 2021 and take-off 2022, considering nearness to Christmas, the accompanying holidays and envisaged reduced productivity of the State’s predominantly Christian workforce.
Adedapo Adesanya 
Modupe Gbadeyanka