CELEBRATING PROGRESS WHILE REFLECTING ON THE PAST:
AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF THE ECONOMIC
TRANSFORMATION OF AKWA IBOM STATE OF NIGERIA
AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF THE ECONOMIC
TRANSFORMATION OF AKWA IBOM STATE OF NIGERIA
By Tom U. U. Okure,
PhD[1]
CONTEXT AND
BACKGROUND
 | |
| Akwa Ibom State Showing 31 Local Government Areas |
The population of the state was projected at 3.9 million in
2006 spread over 31 local government areas with Uyo as the state’s capital. The
state is the 14th most populous state in the country and the third most
populous in the South-south zone. Its major cities are Uyo, Eket, Ikot Ekpene,
Abak, Ikot Abasi and Oron. Five ethnic groups dominate the state consisting of
the Ibibio, Anang, Oron, Eket, and Mbo. The main languages spoken in the state are
Ibobio, Annang Eket and Oron with English serving as the official language of
the state. The 25th anniversary of the state reflects a significant
departure from the past. It is a significant milestone in the history of the
various attempts to spur an economic development take off in this state. Consequently it is an appropriate time not
only to celebrate but to reflect and access the economic development efforts of
the state. According to a UNDP survey in
2010:
Akwa Ibom had the third highest
poverty rate of 27.1 per cent in the
South-south zone after Cross
River (31.9%) and Bayelsa
(32.5%).
According to the NBS as at 2010,
the state’s unemployment rate
was the second highest in the zone
with 25.8 per cent, while Delta
State had the worst (27.2%). On a
brighter note, Akwa Ibom leads
all states in the zone in the ease
of Doing Business 2010 based on a
World Bank study with an overall
ranking of 20th out 36 states and FCT[2]
Despite these dismal statistics, many wonderful things are
happening in AKS as this paper will
highlight which provide genuine reasons to celebrate for the people of AKS.
METHODOLOGY
In explaining the rapid systematic change taking place in
the state, we proceed on the basis of the literature of functionalism in the
political and social sciences and examine the manifest and latent functions
associated with the rapid economic transformation taking placed in AKS.
We also assume that economic development is a desired policy goal in AKS.
Public policies including those associated with economic development have
certain aims in view, but there are occasions when the objective consequences
and in some cases, aims and consequences may actually diverge. For example the
manifest economic function of constructing a modern four lane highway to accommodate
increased traffic flow while functional towards accomplishing a development
goal may have the latent (unintended) consequence of displacing families and
disrupting hitherto traditional social systems. Manifest function is used here
to mean “objective consequences” of an activity (policy) intended and
recognized by participants (policy makers) in the system and contributing
towards adjustment and adaptation of the system. Latent functions on the other
hand are “unanticipated consequences” of an activity (policy) that were neither
intended nor recognized[3]
This paper combines a descriptive and functional analytic
framework to the subject of system transformation in AKS
which falls under the general rubric of “interpretative social science” the
major task here being to discover the intentions which actors (policy makers)
have in doing whatever it is they are doing.[4] Of
significance for our purpose here is explaining the underlying motivations of
the current government in power by describing the assumptions behind the
rigorous economic development policy actions with the hope of discovering the
set of rules which govern the actions of state policy makers involved in this
economic transformation. Our purpose
here is twofold—promoting a better understanding of the basis of the transformation
that is taking place in AKS among students
of the subject of economic development and providing a better awareness of how
government policy when backed with deliberate action can immensely contribute
towards fulfilling a defined set of functional requisites. We also hope to
reveal latent functions which may lead to improvements in the state’s
governmental system.[5]
The basic unit of analysis of this paper is Akwa Ibom State
Government (AKSG) economic development initiatives as a deliberate policy
choice adopted by the current administration of Governor Godswill Akpabio. For explanation purposes, deliberate
happenings in economic development as we are witnessing in AKS
are conceived as actions chosen by a policy maker, in this case, the presiding
state governor supported and aided by a willing legislature in a democratic
environment. Together, state policy
makers have decided to achieve what experts term “economic take off” by
purposefully overcoming certain identified factors that have kept the state in
the past constrained and underdeveloped.
The solution to economic underdevelopment is the fundamental categories
in terms of which this paper perceives what is to be explained.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The main thrust of the silver jubilee celebrations taking
place in AKS on September 23, 2012
is the economic development progress happening in the state. But what exactly
is meant by economic development? In
this paper we define economic development as the persistent, resolute measures
undertaken by state policymakers that foster a higher living standard and
economic wellbeing of a particular area.
Rapid development involves the working of a complex series of
interlocking systems, of which economic component is an essential part.
Economic development also relates to the quantitative and qualitative changes
in an economy associated with such factors as development of human capital,
critical infrastructure, regional competitiveness, environmental
sustainability, social inclusion, health, safety, literacy, and other
initiatives. Economic development should not be confused with economic growth.
Whereas economic growth relates mainly to the productivity of markets and
consequent increase in GDP; economic
development lays emphasis on deliberate policy intervention by policy makers
focused at elevating the economic and social well-being of a people.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF AKWA
IBOM STATE
– WHAT IS DIFFERENT
Economic development has been taking place in AKS
over a long period of time. Each previous administration has built upon the
efforts of its predecessor by tackling the problems of underdevelopment by
investing in housing, road construction, health care, telecommunication,
education etc. Despite these efforts, AKS
remained poor and backward when compared to other states. To illustrate the
point, some progress was attained by the previous administration of Governor
Victor Attah who was credited for putting together thoughtful plans and designs
for infrastructure, human capital and tourism development which one can suppose
laid the foundations for the future growth of the state. Even so, Attah’s critics say he was
ineffective because he had too many paper plans which never materialized into
visible completed projects by the time he left office.
At the conclusion of the Attah’s administration in 2007, his
critics say the economic landscape of the state remained relatively unchanged
with the state’s road network remaining grossly inadequate, with huge potholes
which made many communities inaccessible and cut off from other parts of the
state. Educational facilities were in an awful state of neglect and anyone
traveling through the state could sometimes see students in schools being
taught under trees and exposed to the elements. Many parents could not afford the
fees charged in public schools for their children to attend school. When Governor Godwill Akpabio took over in
2007, he constantly complained about the dismal state of affairs in the state.
In interviews, he complained that innocent Akwa Ibom children are given out by
their poor parents to serve as housemaids in Nigeria’s major cities such as Lagos,
Port Harcourt and Abuja. The latent consequence was the inadvertent sentencing
of a generation of children from AKS to a lifetime of servitude.
The situation was not better in other economic sectors of
the state like health. Dilapidated and outdated physical structures were
everywhere which lacked adequate manpower across all factions of health
workers. The neglect of the public health system had manifest dysfunctional and
latent consequences. Manifestly, the
state could not attract or even retain medical professionals. The latent
(unintended) consequence of this situation was low morale among health workers
and the consequent abandonment of the public health system in favor of private
sector employment by medical professionals including doctors and nurses. AKS is
among states within the Niger Delta region of Nigeria which benefits enormously
from revenues from the federation account.
Even so, observers of the Niger Delta region argued that there was
nothing economically substantial in terms of progress to justify the huge
revenues inflows into the area. This
paper argues that the foundation for the manifest economic transformation that
we are witnessing in AKS can be traced to this awful past state of economic
affairs in the state and the need to do something by the new elected government
of Godswill Akpabio in 2007. One can suppose that it was this reasoning to do
something different and perhaps dramatically unusual from past administrations
that motivated and galvanized the current administration of Akpabio into taking
decisive policy action. Armed with a
nine point political agenda which catapulted him into office by popular vote
despite severe political opposition[6] Governor
Akpabio made a critical public policy choice in favor of economic
transformation of AKS. Governor Akpabio did not play politics with
many important projects started by Attah’s administration. Instead he adopted
continuity as a matter of public policy and set about executing and in some
cases upgrading some of Attah's unfinished projects to completion. Examples
include Ibom International Airport, Le’ Meridien Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort and
the Ibom Power Plant.
The symbolism associated with the completion of these
economically important projects from a policy point of view cannot be overstated.
To illustrate, the commissioning of Ibom International Airport was both
symbolic and strategically important for achieving important economic aims of
the administration. Functionally, it immediately changed the image of the state
as backward and inaccessible to that of a modern and prosperous state. It eased
the air transportation and access problems that the state was facing and put
the state in parity with other major commercial centers of repute in Nigeria.
Suddenly, people and commercial concerns could visit and exit the state without
going through other neighboring states. One might also note that the investment
in the airport had the manifest beneficial consequence of increasing economic
activity by paving the way to increased tourism in the state. A latent
(unobvious) consequence of the completion of prior projects started by the
Attah administration has been in the sense of accountability, good governance
and best practices that Governor Akpabio has received in many commendations.
Governor Akpabio has received many honors from many private groups and
government institutions for exhibiting accountability and good governance
principles in the economic development strides he has taken. His
people-oriented projects are praised as exhibiting exemplary leadership skills
by bringing government closer to the people.
The point to note is this, the many accelerated events
(activities ) associated with the Akpabio administration did not just happen as
a matter of normal governmental administration. These are choice economic
events and the result of purposefulness of public policy. Governor Akpabio
deliberately set about to change the pattern maintenance structure of
governance in the state. Creating a modern economy requires investing in bold
and capital intensive infrastructure to release and move the engines of
development forward. Today in AKS, there
appears to be an unprecedented political consensus and willingness between the
executive, the legislature and the judiciary, all energized with the singular
purpose of modernizing this hitherto
poor state. Unlike any previous administration, this administration stands
above the rest in terms of the scale of capital investments, the spread of the
investments, the quality and standards inherent in the projects and the
timeliness and effectiveness of executing the projects. The premise behind this
rigorous effort is to create a better economic future for Akwa Ibom people. The
people oriented projects are a deliberate policy choice with the manifest
functional consequences of generating local employment and making government
both visible and useful to the common man. It also generates good will and
contentment among the masses as latent functional consequences for the
political party in power. A frequent visitor to this state can feel the
transformation taking place because of the many construction projects spread
across the state. The roads the administration has constructed, the local
health clinics, the schools that have been built and rehabilitated are
regularly utilized by the people so they directly see and appreciate the
workings of government in their lives.
It is this deliberate government policy orientation towards
transforming a hitherto backward state into a modern economic environment that
is different and is drawing attention to Akwa Ibom State and to Godswill Akpabio
as a model charismatic Nigerian leader and a can do administrator. The
challenges before the administration are not easy, but the task of
transformation is progressing and visible and provides a justifiable basis for
celebration.
BUDGETING FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
This section briefly discusses the state budget. It is not
an analysis of the budget process in terms of budget formulation,
implementation or the adequacy of appropriations allocated to the economic or
social sectors of the economy. The determination of AKSG to transform the state
into a modern economy is reflected in the states consistent high appropriations
to capital projects over the years to overcome the infrastructure deficit of
the state. Nasir El-Rufai in a recent
article indicates that the AKS 2012 budget reveals a commitment to achieve real
progress towards improving the living standards for its people. The 2012 budget
is:
N407.8bn, as against the N419.78bn
in 2011. Out of the 2012 figure,
N66.244bn (16.2%) is for recurrent
expenditure while N341.5bn
(83.7%) is earmarked for capital
expenditure. This indicates the
government’s commitment to
achieving real development and
improving the living standards for
its people. The budget would be
financed from federation account
(N242bn), internally generated
revenues (N21.65bn), local and
foreign loans (N65bn), grants (N2bn),
an opening balance of N21bn and
N100 million from the ecological funds[7]
Rufai points out that the capital spending priorities of the
2012 budget reveal carefully thought out and focused expenditure. N38.1bn is
set aside for creating state-owned industries reflecting that state’s policy
objective of expanding its production base. This should have manifest future
consequences on the state’s ability to generate internal revenues. According to the government, its 2011 budget
was predicted on the completion of all on going people oriented projects,
generating activities by continued
provision of basic infrastructure (power
and transportation) and security. Developing human capital and enhancing
services in education and health sectors with a view to improving the living
standards of the people, and creating of more employment opportunities by
establishing industries. In 2010, the
government budgeted N298.5billion. Of this amount, 16.9% was allocated for
recurrent expenditure, while 83.1% is for capital projects.
The key point to note here is this. The purposefulness of public policy action in
favor of building economic and human physical infrastructure has dictated that
over 70 percent of its budget over the last four years is devoted to capital
expenditure; more than the minimum recommended by economic development experts
as essential to attain a meaningful economic take off in an underdeveloped
economic setting. As the pressure to do more to improve the living conditions
of its citizen’s mount, it is noteworthy to point out that this administration
is also striving to improve its internal tax collection effort. The 2012 budget
is funded with N21.65bn of internally generated revenues. Progress in
collecting taxes is reflected in the completion of construction of 13 new tax
offices in various local governments last year.[8] Past
administrations in the state may have inadvertently undermined the goal of
efficient tax collections because of the situation of erroneously conceived
wealth in the state due to the inflow of huge federally allocated revenues.
THE ROLE OF OIL AND REVENUE ALLOCATION
AKS is
the largest oil producing state with most of the oil coming from off-shore oil
fields accounting for enormous revenue to the federal government and other
states in Nigeria since 1970. AKS is one
of the crude oil rich states in Nigeria, which through its enormous natural
endowment in oil wells; the Nigerian federal government feeds off from and
compensates through a 13 percent derivation fund for hosting its joint venture
schemes with multi-national corporations such as Shell Petroleum Development
Company of Nigeria (SPDC), ExxonMobil etc.
Through
the process of federal revenue allocations, AKS is one of the principal
beneficiaries of the huge inflow of oil revenues to Nigeria due to the sharp
increases in the world prices for oil. The Federal Government of Nigeria admits
that it earned a total of N5.561 trillion from oil and gas in 2011. In its
revised 2011 to 2014 Revenue and Expenditure Framework document the Federal
Government disclosed that after deducting the 13 percent derivation fund, the
country was left with N4.838 trillion for distribution to the various levels of
government by the Federal Account Allocation Committee, FAAC. Like most
Nigerian states AKS is highly dependent of oil revenues and has succeeded to
increase its budgetary resources since its creation without a corresponding
need to increase its internal revenue collections efforts. Oil revenues to AKS has increased
significantly over the years as the number of oil wells credited to the benefit
of the state has increased. Presently, the number of oil wells attributed to AKS
is about 1500. The appearance of great state wealth is fueling the expectations
of citizens regarding what the state government can do and should be
doing. Under the circumstance, AKS
citizens have become unwilling as in the past to settle for mediocrity from
their elected officials who make promises and do not or cannot deliver on their
promises.
Thanks to the huge inflow of oil revenues into the state’s
treasury, the Akpabio administration unlike many of its counterparts is able to
fulfill its promises of providing an ever increasing range of amenities and
social services to its citizens. It is revenues from oil accruing to AKS from
the federation account that is instrumental in the economic transformation that
AKS is experiencing. Without the huge inflow of oil revenues it would be
difficult to translate the deliberate policy choice of economic development
into concrete development action.
EXAMPLES OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS
If economic development is a desired policy goal to be
achieved in AKS, the yard stick of progress towards accomplishing that goal or
put differently, accessing the accomplishments of the current administration
towards that goal cannot fully be understood without asking a relevant
political question -- are the people of Akwa Ibom State better off today than
they were five years ago? In order to answer this question, we examined the
public record in terms of observable achievements in several areas including
road construction and maintenance; transportation, education, health services,
tourism, etc
ROAD
CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE
Any regular visitor to the state would notice the great
difference in the state of roads in the state.
Road construction is fundamental to development and is not a new idea.
It has been embarked upon by prior administrations in the state. What is new in
road construction in AKS today is the design and quality of roads being built
and the level of expenditure devoted to road construction and maintenance. Weather by deliberate policy or by default,
road construction and maintenance does not appear to have been a major priority
of previous administrations. Existing roads were not built with the best
designs or with the best materials to last. A road maintenance culture did not
exist. Consequently, the poorly constructed roads in the first place could not
last as they deteriorated rapidly with the onset of the rainy season. Roads in major cities of the state like Ikot
Ekpene, Abak, Oron etc were eye soars to look at and impassible in many
instances.
These affected the flow of goods and services within and between
communities as many were cut off from each other. Large and deep pot holes in major highways
caused numerous deadly accidents. Over
the last five years, the administration of Godswill Akpabio has devoted
millions of naira in budgetary resources towards the building, repair,
improvement and maintenance of the existing road network. New roads have been constructed linking
hitherto inaccessible rural communities with urban areas enabling the free flow
of traffic and boosting economic activity in the state as a consequence. Road projects in Akwa Ibom State are
exemplary among Nigerian states. Progress is visible everywhere in the state
with the construction of new roads, dualisation of major roads (even federal roads
to accommodate increased traffic), rehabilitation of existing roads and bridges
and building appropriate drainages to prevent road erosion.
Unlike prior administrations which relied on incompetent
local contractors awarded political contracts to build roads; this
administration has retained the services of reputable and proven construction
companies in Nigeria such as Julius Berger, Setraco, Stemco, CCEE, ACE and Bass
Engineering, etc to build roads. The
state’s landscape has considerably changed as a result of the massive road
construction projects around the state.
According to the Governor Akpabio:
Contracts for road construction
worth well over N80 billion have
been awarded to both foreign and
local construction firms which
include: Ekim Itam – Ekom Iman road
dualisation, Afaha Obong –
Ika – Etim Ekpo, cutting across 3
local government councils, and
Ikot-Ekpene – Abak road all at the
cost of N43 billion. Etebi – Enwang
road, road network around the Union
park, Ikot Ntan – Obiokpok –
Afaha-Offiong – Mbiokporo –
Ikot-Edibon Section I and II, Eket
urban roads lots 1 – 5, Nung Udoe
Itak – Okoita – Use Ikot Amama –
Ibiaku Ikot Esifia, Ikot Abasi
urban roads, lots 1 – 5, Oron urban roads,
lots 1 – 3 and Ikot Ekpene urban
roads. A total of about 180km, that cuts
across 20 local government councils
at the cost of about 83 billion Naira[9]
The effort of the present government in eradicating pot
holes in urban roads is especially
manifest in Uyo, Ikot Ekpene and Eket where previously
unmotorable roads have been rehabilitated under a government conceived project refered
to as “operation zero potholes.” The program has been very successful in improving
the quality of life and the environment in Uyo, Ikot Ekpene and Eket. Good
roads boost economic activity by ensuring the free flow of goods and services.
Road construction provides local employment and business for local people
including enhancing the landscape as manifest consequences. But there have also been latent dysfunctional
consequences associated with the road construction according to critics.
Traditional family ties and rituals, historical buildings and monuments etc
have been destroyed due to confiscation of family lands and displacement of
families from their historical lands to accommodate dualisation of roads. The
State government has paid compensation for displaced families affected by the
construction of new roads. However, in many instances, the high marginal cost
associated with building new homes coupled with high inflation associated with
the cost of building materials has made it impossible for many displaced
families to rebuild. Consequently many generations of previous home owners are
now renters as they are unable to rebuild their homes.
TRANSPORTATION: The most visible progressive achievement in the
transportation area is manifest in the completion of the Ibom International
airport started by the Attah administration which has eased air transportation
into the state. Earlier we noted that the airport completion served an
important symbolic function by improving the image of the state and making it a
modern mature state. Effort to improve transportation in the states urban
centers is also evident in the successful implementation of the taxi scheme in
Uyo which initially started out with 400 taxis. There is also evidence of progress regarding
road safety especially in the capital city of Uyo where one can see solar
powered traffic lights and the installation of reflectors on some major roads
and road markings is evident in most of the major streets in the capital city
and in some major towns in the state.
EDUCATION: The
Akpabio admiration has also taken a bold step by making education of its
indigenes a priority. An effort to totally reorganize the educational system
has been taking shape in recognition that this sector is the main determinant of
the collective future of its citizens.
Increased budgetary resources are channeled towards increasing the pool of
quality elementary and secondary school teachers and expanding the education
infrastructure in the state.
Accomplishment in the educational sector is evident in the government’s
introduction of free and compulsory education for primary and secondary schools
and the building of a modern digital library in Uyo. Other areas of progress
include the effort at accreditation of courses at some states higher
institutions, the granting of numerous scholarships to students to study abroad
and the successful renovation of at least one primary school and one secondary
school in every local government around the state. The rehabilitation of primary and secondary
schools around the state is generating goodwill for government among the people
and boosting the morale of teachers as latent functional consequences. Priority
in education is also reflected in the administrations devotion to making Akwa
Ibom state University of Technology a credible educational institution. The
management team of the school is working towards obtaining the approvals needed
from the National Universities Commission (NUC) to commence full operations.
HEALTH: Visible
progress can be noticed in the provision of health services both from a
qualitative and quantitative manner. This effort is manifest in the establishment
of new physical structures such as health clinics and in the motivation of
health personnel. In this regard the Akpabio
administration states that it has constructed five new general hospitals and construction
of a specialist hospital of international standard is progressing. The
government is constructing four new additional cottage hospitals this year in
order to increase access to health care.
TOURISM: AKS is also rapidly becoming a preferred destination in
Nigeria for holding official retreats and conferences. The state is encouraging
tourism deliberately through advertisements and the building of new modern
facilities such as a modern cinema theater and a new hotel and entertainment
complex referred to as the Tropicana Entertainment Center supposed to
complement the Le’ Meridien Ibom Hotel and Golf Resort. According to the present administration, on
completion, the Tropicana Center will include a modern entertainment center, a
5-star hotel with 350 rooms, and a museum to showcase the cultural heritage of
the people. When compared to other
states, AKS also enjoys relative peace which is attractive to outsiders from
the state seeking to have a vacation.
Peace and stability are latent essential ingredients for rapid economic
development because it affords a framework within which individual change
agents can operate in confidence, knowing that the society will continue to
function within well-understood guidelines, despite its continual re-adjustment
to meet changing conditions. Conferences and tourism in general bring outsiders
to the state who spend their money through shopping activities which help to
bolster the local economies of the state.
The state has also hosted beauty pageants and amateur and national golf
competitions. Visitors who come and enjoy the facilities are impressed at the
rapid and bold steps of the present administration.
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS AND ANALYTIC OBSERVATIONS
Some of the other projects embarked upon by this
administration that is worth calling attention to include construction of an international
stadium and the construction of flyovers in Uyo to ease traffic congestion.
The state has also constructed 1,000 3-bedroom flats, completed a modern state banquet
hall that can accommodate 500 guests, completed a new federal prison in Ikot
Ekpene etc. All the 329 wards of the
state have benefited in the people oriented projects of this administration
which is carried out through what is termed “the inter-ministerial direct labor
committee.”
The impact of the huge investments that is being carried on
by the present administration may not be immediately obvious for the citizenry
of the state. Nevertheless, most developmental experts and studies by the World
Bank indicate huge investments in better education, healthcare, transportation and
job training for young people are essential to produce surging economic growth
and sharply reduced poverty.
Many previous governors have had big dreams for the state
and started many symbolic projects in anticipation of obtaining increases in
oil derivation revenue that accrues to the state. The present administration
has been blessed in that its big dreams have been supported by a steady inflow
of revenue from the federal account. What we are witnessing in AKS does not
appear to be another false economic dawn for the people of the area, in which
the key to development was seen by previous administrations to essentially
consist of flashes of mismanaged and abandoned projects after enormous
budgetary resources had been expended to incompetent local contractors who
could not deliver on the projects. As noted earlier, despite the noble
intention of the previous Attah administration, so much effort was expended on
feasibility studies of planned projects which were not effectively
executed. Much still remains to be done
in terms of eradicating certain specific pathologies - such as the pervasive
influence of corruption - which hinder rapid economic development by creating
their own, self-contained systems, which actively work against constructive
change.
CONCLUSION
We have argued throughout this paper that there has always
been some rudimentary level of economic development in this state. What is
different now is the focused attention by policy makers to ramp up progress in
the state. To that extent, Governor Akpabio’s administration stands above any
previous administration. What many term as “uncommon transformation” is
explained as deliberate public policy actions undertaken as a matter of
deliberate choice by a farsighted Governor Akpabio determined to fulfill his
election promises by uplifting the economic and social well-being of his
people.
If there is a lesson to be learnt from the past development
efforts in AKS, it is that policy choices adopted by policy makers do matter
and can functionally or dysfunctionally impact the attainment of economic
development objectives. The empirical evidence appears to suggest that the hitherto
underdevelopment of AKS can perhaps be traced to the inadvertent neglect by
previous administrations and their political shortsightedness regarding the
ways and means of spurring an economic take off. Evidence abound that there was malfunction or
weakness within the individual parts of the overall state developing system
which naturally stunted economic development. The key to understanding the
rapid transformation taking place lies in understanding the purposefulness of
public policy implementation and what it can accomplish. This is the magic of
the Akpabio administration – its purposefulness of public policy which has put
AKS finally in the right track towards economic take off towards the
industrialization of the state.
Finally, care must be taken to ensure that the
transformational progress achieved so far is continued; perhaps by
institutionalizing the policy choices favored by this administration into state
law to ensure that future administrations will not alter the present course of
progress towards achieving a modern industrial economy.
[1]
Dr. Tom Okure is President and CEO of
Inter-Continental Management Systems, Inc (or ICMS, Inc) a multifaceted
business and management consulting firm with its head office in Albany,
New York. Dr. Okure is also a Principal Budget Analyst
with the New York State Legislature, Assembly Ways
and Means Committee. This article reflects only the views of the author. All rights reserved by ICMS, Inc. The
information included in this publication may not be used, reproduced,
transmitted, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written permission of
Dr. Tom Okure.
[2]
See Article by Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai entitled
“Akwa Ibom`s Budget of Infrastructural Development” posted in ThisdayLive.Com
, July 6, 2012.
[3]
See Robert K Merton, Manifest and Latent Functions,” in Social Structure
(Glencoe: The Free Press, 1957), p. 51
[4]
Brain Fay, Social Theory and Political Practice.
(London: George Allen and Unwin Ltd, 1975), p. 73
[5]
A feature of functionalist accounts is to view societies as made up of
component parts whose interrelation contributes to the maintenance of the whole
(pattern maintenance), and to focus on the problem of order specifying forces
that bring cohesion, integration, and equilibrium to society.
[6]
See Godswill Akpabio’s – Official Website under Mandate: “Nine-Point Agenda of
My Vision for a Greater Akwa Ibom State” in GodswillAkpabio.com According to the Governor’s website, the
“nine point agenda is a governance optimization model through critical handles
of people, process and technology. It is a method of placing a human face in
governance and re-engineering governance to satisfy critical needs of the
people today while reducing pressure on governance in the future by laying a
solid foundation. The model adapts best in class policies for sustainable
development, resource utilization, and accountability.”
[7]
See Nasir El-Rufai’s article “Akwa Ibom’s Budget
of Infrastructural Development” posted in ThisdayLive.com, July 6, 2012.
[8]
Ibid
[9]
See Godwill Akpabio, "Godswill Akpabio’s Achievement: Road Projects for Akwa
Ibom State" in Godswillakpabio.com
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