The Center for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN) has raised sweeping objections to the Akwa Ibom State 2026 Appropriation Bill.
Sequel to the above, CHRAN’s Director, Franklyn Isong called for elimination of inactive agencies, clearer delineation of government responsibilities and a significant increase in capital funding for the state judiciary.
Isong, who presented the right’s group position at a public hearing in Uyo on Wednesday criticised what they described as overlapping functions between the Akwa Ibom Bulk Purchase Agency, allocated over N3.6 billion and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, in the distribution of food items and palliatives, urged the state government to streamline the roles of both bodies to avoid duplication.
CHRAN also faulted budgetary provision for the Akwa Ibom State College of Education, which was allocated N2.76 billion despite having been upgraded to the Akwa Ibom State University of Education through a law signed in October 2025.
It urged the Attorney-General and budget drafters to correct what it termed a “serious oversight.”
The organisation very strongly criticised the Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency for receiving more than N14 billion, while failing to maintain clean streets or evacuate refuse promptly in Uyo metropolis and the environs.
It called on the House Committee on Environment to intensify oversight to address the agency’s declining performance.
Another major concern expressed by the group was the worsening state of public libraries. CHRAN lamented that the Akwa Ibom State Library Board, allocated N115 million without a capital vote, has no functional facilities, describing the Uyo library as decrepit and abandoned alongside the former e-library on IBB Avenue.
The group demanded the scrapping of three “moribund” agencies still receiving public funds: the Life Enhancement Agency, Urban Taxi Network Ltd, and the Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board arguing that, the Pilgrims Board also offends the constitutional provision against adopting a state religion.
Further criticism was directed at the Roads and Other Infrastructure Maintenance Agency, which received over N1.5 billion but has yet to address persistent potholes or maintain streetlights despite express directives from the governor.
Similarly, CHRAN queried the performance of the Rural Access Roads Agency, allocated about N1.1 billion, citing abandoned rural road projects including the Ikot Ekan–Ikot Nsung Ikono Road in Etinan.
While noting that, the House of Assembly received more than N17 billion in combined allocations, CHRAN challenged lawmakers to justify the funds through improved constituency engagement, empowerment programmes and visible projects.
While commending the Governor for delivering a new Assembly Complex, for, the organisation described the N7.76 billion recurrent and N4.2 billion capital votes as grossly inadequate for courts operating across the state’s 31 LGAs.
It urged a radical increase in capital funding to rehabilitate dilapidated courtrooms lacking basic amenities such as; toilets, water and electricity, and commended the House leadership for the diligence shown in preparing and scrutinising the 2026 budget.
He expressed optimism that, its recommendations would be adopted for the benefit of Akwa Ibom residents.
