Group faults Eno’s spending priorities, calls for shift to sustainable development

Civil society coalition says Governor Umo Eno’s administration is drifting toward elite-centred governance and urges a transparent, people-focused reform agenda to revive key sectors.

Akanimo Sampson

More than 29 months into Governor Umo Eno’s first four-year term in Akwa Ibom State, some critical stakeholders in the 38-year-old oil-rich state say they are becoming increasingly uncomfortable with what they describe as the governor’s “underwhelming” governance trajectory.

When the Eno administration took off on May 29, 2023, it was heralded with lofty promises and ambitious rhetoric. Governor Eno declared that he came into office with what he called the finisher’s anointing—a divine mandate, as he put it, to “connect the dots” and consolidate the achievements of his predecessors. That message was received with optimism, interpreted as a pledge to build on the developmental foundations laid by former governors Obong Victor Attah (1999–2007), Godswill Akpabio (2007–2015), and Udom Emmanuel (2015–2023).

But as the months rolled by, enthusiasm began to wane.

Growing disconnect

Last weekend in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom Leadership and Development Network (AILDN), a policy advocacy group that promotes people-centred and development-driven governance, held a roundtable to evaluate the governor’s performance and development direction.

At the end of the meeting, the group released a strongly worded communique expressing deep dissatisfaction with what it described as “a widening gap between policy rhetoric and the development reality on the ground.”

According to the communique signed by the group’s convener, Prince Emmanuel Sam, the Eno administration appears to be sliding into “ceremonial governance and elite-centred development”—a model they say may look impressive in the media but fails to strengthen institutions or deliver real economic transformation.

The group announced that it would commence periodic performance reviews of the administration across key sectors—economy, environment, agriculture, education, health, and youth development—to ensure accountability and measurable progress.

Education: Symbolic or systemic?

Governor Eno has frequently cited education as one of the pillars of his ARISE Agenda. His government is currently constructing 31 model primary schools across the 31 local government areas, with official reports indicating that 12 are completed and 19 are at various stages of construction. Additionally, three model secondary schools—one in each senatorial district—are in progress.

While these efforts have been widely publicised, the AILDN argues that they remain largely symbolic rather than systemic. Akwa Ibom has over 1,160 public primary schools and 244 public secondary schools, alongside seven technical colleges and one special education centre. Many of these institutions, the group noted, are in a deplorable state—plagued by infrastructural decay, poor teacher motivation, and inadequate learning materials.

“The construction of a few model schools cannot substitute for a comprehensive education reform,” the group said. “Digital literacy remains a huge gap in the state. With national examinations and administrative processes now migrating fully to online platforms, our students risk being left behind.”

The group urged the government to channel resources into upgrading existing schools, training teachers in digital education, and integrating vocational and STEM-based learning to prepare young people for the global economy.

Health sector: Piecemeal response to a systemic crisis

The Eno administration also lists healthcare as one of its priorities. It has announced plans to build 31 model primary healthcare centres, with between 10 and 17 reportedly completed. However, the AILDN described this as a “piecemeal approach to a systemic crisis.”

Akwa Ibom currently has about 425 primary and 42 secondary health facilities. Many of these lack essential drugs, qualified personnel, and functional equipment. The group noted that the recently declared state of emergency in the health sector would remain “an empty slogan” unless backed by strategic planning and institutional reform.

“Health facilities across the state remain weak, underfunded, and poorly managed,” the communique stated. “Without coordinated reform and data-driven monitoring, the state risks repeating the old pattern of commissioning buildings without sustaining service delivery.”

Infrastructure: Roads of frustration

Perhaps the most visible concern for citizens is the state of infrastructure, particularly road networks. Across the state—from Uyo to Ikot Ekpene, Eket, Oron, Ikot Abasi, Etinan, and Abak—roads that once served as flagship projects are now riddled with potholes, flooding, and erosion damage.

The group observed that several roads and other public projects that were ceremoniously flagged off have since been abandoned, with no clear indication from the government about resumption timelines.

“The deterioration of major roads reflects poor fiscal management and lack of continuity in governance,” the group asserted. “Project execution has become politicised, and the proliferation of special aides, consultants, and committees has created overlapping responsibilities and confusion.”

Fiscal priorities under scrutiny

Another area of concern is what stakeholders describe as the “expanding political patronage system.” The AILDN said that the multiplication of advisory positions and special assistants has bloated the government’s recurrent expenditure while shrinking funds available for capital development.

According to the communique, this pattern diverts scarce public funds into “luxury political spending and elite consumption” rather than productive investments that could stimulate job creation and innovation.

“This governance style risks widening inequality and alienating citizens,” the group warned. “A government that spends more on maintaining political loyalty than on building sustainable infrastructure will soon lose the moral authority to lead.”

Call for a strategic reset

In its final recommendations, the Akwa Ibom Leadership and Development Network urged Eno to undertake a strategic reset of his development priorities.

The group called for system-oriented reforms anchored on institutional efficiency, transparent fiscal management, reduced political patronage, and active public participation in policy design.

“Akwa Ibom’s greatest resource is its people,” the group emphasised. “Harnessing that human capital through innovation, skills development, and inclusive governance should form the core of the state’s development agenda.”

The communique also recommended the establishment of an independent Public Policy Evaluation Unit within the Ministry of Economic Development to track project implementation and performance metrics.

Inclusive governance and collaboration

The group further advised the governor to adopt an inclusive approach to governance by engaging past leaders, professionals, civil society organisations, the Akwa Ibom Traditional Rulers Council, and the media in continuous dialogue.

“It is dangerous for any democratic leader to govern imperially in a republic,” the statement warned. “True leadership lies in consultation, collaboration, and accountability.”

They urged Governor Eno to go beyond symbolic projects and embrace genuine reforms that touch lives and transform communities.

A call for sustainable transformation

Akwa Ibom, they said, stands at a crossroads. As one of Nigeria’s leading oil-producing states, it possesses the resources, talent, and potential to become a model of sustainable development. But that will require political will, fiscal discipline, and a governance framework that prioritises long-term transformation over short-term optics.

“Governance should not be about showmanship,” the group concluded. “It should be about substance—about building institutions that outlast political cycles and creating an economy that works for everyone.”

With many projects stalled and public confidence waning, the call from civil society is clear: Akwa Ibom needs less rhetoric and more results.

Governor Eno’s administration, still with time on its side, must prove that it can move from promise to performance—and from political symbolism to sustainable transformation.