The Akwa Ibom State Government has declared a state of emergency in the health sector to accelerate reforms and improve healthcare services. This action aligns with the administration’s ARISE agenda, which emphasizes efficient healthcare delivery. Commissioner for Information Elder Aniekan Umanah explained that the emergency regime will focus on upgrading medical facilities, reopening the recruitment portal, and engaging 2,000 healthcare workers. The recruitment process will be streamlined, with the requirement for voters’ identity card numbers waived for applicants. The government will also upgrade health‑training institutions, enroll and train health professionals, and contract retired medical personnel.
An Inter‑Ministerial Steering Committee has been constituted to ensure prompt implementation of these emergency measures. In a related development, the State Executive Council has proposed a supplementary budget of ₦695 billion, raising the total 2025 budget to ₦1.65 trillion. The supplementary budget will cover various expenditures, including the new minimum wage, personnel emoluments, and allowances for NYSC members. It will also fund emergency flood and erosion control, the completion of ongoing projects affected by inflation, and the construction of new infrastructure.
Additional allocations in the supplementary budget include funding for newly created ministries, the purchase of mass‑transit buses, and the development of the ARISE Shopping City. Capital provisions are earmarked for the acquisition of new aircraft and the development of housing estates. The meeting that proposed the supplementary budget was attended by key officials, such as the Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, and the Secretary to the State Government.
Together, the declaration of a health‑sector emergency and the proposed supplementary budget demonstrate the government’s commitment to improving healthcare services and addressing critical infrastructure needs. With the Inter‑Ministerial Steering Committee in place, the administration aims to ensure efficient implementation of these measures, thereby advancing the state’s development and enhancing the well‑being of its citizens.
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