Emmanuel receives economic reconstruction committee’s report

Udom Emmanuel, Akwa Ibom state governor, has received report of the state’s post COVID-19 economic reconstruction committee.

The post COVID-19 economic reconstruction committee chaired by Akpan Ekpo, a professor, was set up a month ago by the governor, to recommend how the state can build a viable economy post coronavirus pandemic.

Emmanuel received the 142-page report from the committee secretary, Emmanuel Onwioduokit, also a professor on Tuesday, saying that, with the report, his administration has a new deal for the state.

He said he constituted the committee to make recommendations to prepare the state for the realities of a post COVID-19 economy, stressing that the recommendations made by the committee will be implemented.

“This will not be an academic exercise and will never be an academic exercise. Whenever things like this happen things change. If something not as impactful as COVID-19, the September 11 bombing, changed the face of aviation across the entire globe, I don’t see how things will remain the same after COVID-19,” he said.

“With this (report), we should have a new deal for our people. Let me assure the committee that every bit of the recommendation given in this report will not be taken for granted”.

Emmanuel thanked members of the committee for contributing their knowledge to the service of the state finishing the job on time.

Onwioduokit said the committee made more than 117 recommendations based on its terms of reference.

Among other things, the committee has recommended the creation of a reserve fund, an economic advisory council, social reorientation and strict anti-cultism policies and recapitalisation of the state government owned mortgage bank, Akwa Savings and Loans Limited.

Meanwhile, the governor has set up a five member committee for the implementation of the state economic reconstruction committee’s recommendations.