Umo Eno: Of Fiscal Discipline, Revenue Generation and the ARISE Agenda

Umo Eno: Of Fiscal Discipline, Revenue Generation and the ARISE Agenda

By Aniefiok Macauley

Following a solemn Interdenominational Thanksgiving cum Covenant Service to usher in the new year, Akwa Ibom State governor, Pastor Umo Eno has signalled a shift from traditional run-of-the mill governance approach to more business-oriented approach for 2026.

Governor Eno is not merely starting a new calendar year; he is launching an audacious fiscal revolution designed to turn the state’s ARISE Blueprint into a robust tangible reality to create wealth and engender development.

Speaking at the Thanksgiving service which held at the 10,000 capacity International Worship Center, Uyo, the governor announced the introduction of Treasury Single Account, TSA, and Introduction of the Tenement Rate payment by homeowners.

These initiatives were promptly followed up at an enlarged Executive Council meeting and first for year 2026 in which the 2026 Appropriation bill of N1.58 trillion earlier passed by the State House of Assembly was signed into law.

The exco witnessed the inauguration of the committee on the implementation of the TSA headed by a seasoned Banker and Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Emem Bob

With a record N1.58 trillion budget recently signed into law, the message from the Hilltop Mansion is clear: the era of “business as usual” is over, all hands, especially the Commissioners , must be on deck to ensure timely delivery of programs of their MDAs in line with the ARISE agenda.

According to the governor “we have a budget of N1.5trillion, we need to get funds so that we can execute the budget. I commit myself to following that budget and we must all commit ourselves to allowing those funds to come in.”

The 2026 budget tagged Budget of Expansion and Growth is a bold statement of intent. With 74% allocated to capital expenditure and only 26% for recurrent spending, Governor Umo Eno’s led administration is prioritizing long-term growth over administrative overhead. This lean recurrent framework ensures that the lion’s share of the state’s resources is directed toward the completion of landmark projects.

Some of these landmark projects, besides roads and bridges at various levels of completion, include the ongoing reclamation of the gully ravaged Uyo village road and turning the over 100 hectares of land reclaimed to Government Housing Estate, completion of The Ibom International Hospital, Ibom International Convention Centre, Ibom Tropicana Hotels and The ARISE Palm Park.

To fund this ambitious infrastructure drive without sinking the state into debt, Governor Eno has introduced the Treasury Single Account (TSA). By consolidating all Ministry, Department, and Agency (MDA) funds into a unified account, the state is effectively ending the era of fragmented banking.

“No agency is allowed to own its own stand-alone account, This is the only way we can maintain transparency and track our resources effectively,” the governor said at the inauguration of the committee.

Perhaps the benefits of the TSA using the AkwaRemit system are multi-fold such that there is a real-time visibility of total liquidity which prevents funds from sitting idle in obscure accounts.
Additionally, there is opportunity to eliminate of leakages because the standardized collection channels is aimed at reducing the opportunities for unauthorized diversions and misappropriation by the MDAs.

Again, by leveraging consolidated balances, the state can meet payment obligations and fund capital projects without resorting to expensive short-term bank loans.

Furthermore, as a step towards the full implementation of the TSA, the governor has terminated contracts with third-party revenue consultants and directed all MDAs to work through the Inter-Ministerial Committee.

This move ensures that revenue collection is professionalized and that every kobo collected is accounted for within the TSA framework.

“As we speak, Akwa Ibom is not owing any bank in this country. Not one bank. And we don’t intend to owe, except if it becomes absolutely necessary… if we are honest and transparent, we’ll have more than enough to execute the budget,” governor Eno said.

Pastor Eno’s strategy extends beyond managing existing funds to actively growing the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). A key pillar of this plan is the introduction of tenement rates for homeowners.

In a move that balances firmness with empathy, the Governor announced a grace period: “We have waived tenement rates for previous years, only for those who pay between now and March. If you pay early, we won’t ask for the previous ones.”

The Governor’s 2026 roadmap is a masterclass in fiscal discipline. By matching political will with technical tools like the TSA, Akwa Ibom is positioning itself as a model of sub-national financial management in Nigeria.

As the “machinery” of the ARISE blueprint begins to grind in 2026, Akwa Ibom people can expect an eventful 365 days where promises are not just made, but funded and delivered.

Aniefiok Macauley is SA (Print Media) to Akwa Ibom State Governor