Akwa Ibom set to establish audit commission

The Akwa Ibom state government has granted approval for the establishment of an audit commission to ensure transparency and accountability.

This was part of the resolutions of the executive council meeting of Tuesday presided over by Udom Emmanuel, the governor, at government house, Uyo.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Akan Okon, commissioner of economic development and Ibom Deep Seaport, said the commission will provide adequate information on the activities of the government.

Glory Edet, commissioner for agriculture, added that the executive council also approved the establishment of a gender policy to deepen women participation in social spheres of the economy in accordance with the World Bank programme on gender.

“The policy started last year (2019) with meetings with stakeholders including NGOs and explained  that the policy is a  requirement for Covid-19 action on recovery and economic stimulus programme of the World Bank , stressing that “for a state to benefit from the programme it must have a gender policy which the state has started,” she said.

She said the gender policy which is a necessity in gender mainstreaming in all spheres of the state economy, accommodates both gender but with greater focus on women in areas of health, politics, agriculture etc since women  are more vulnerable when it comes to gender issues.

Ini Ememobong, commissioner for information and strategy, while  setting the tone for the briefing, announced that the council received the full year report on Ibom Hotels and Golf Resorts in preparations for public private partnership, PPP, for greater efficiency and management of the facility.

He shed light on the proposed conduct of a fresh promotion interview for 2019 batch of workers on level 07 and above by the state civil service commission, emphasising that “government is on track and by 1st of October the result must be concluded and received”.