By Flowerbudnews
The Chairman of Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State, Chief Obiora Obeagu, has presented a budget estimate proposal of N5.5bn for the 2025 Fiscal Year to the area’s Legislative Council.
Presenting the budget at the Council headquarters, Ikem; Obeagu said the budget was christened: “Budget of Economic Growth and Transformation.”
He noted that the 2025 budget estimate was an increase from the N4.15 billion 2024 budget and consistent with Gov. Peter Mbah’s effort to ramp up the state’s economy exponentially from $4.4 billion to $30 billion.
The council boss said that the much expected growth would be achieved through private sector investment and catalysation of productivity in rural areas.
He said the 2025 budget would give effect to the Council’s 2025-2026 Rolling Plan that aims to ensure food security; enhance employment opportunities; rehabilitate, equip, and intensify primary healthcare delivery facilities and system; develop and invest in tourism and market projects.
“It will also improve transportation system through rehabilitation of existing rural roads and the construction of new ones and enforce quality education and academic grants,” he said.
He stressed that the budget funding would benefit from a significant improvement in the Council’s IGR predicated on ventures like the development of several markets, real estates and plugging of loopholes in revenue collection among others.
According to him, it is a budget anchored on our firm resolve to open up the economic corridors and potentials of our landlocked local government in our determined efforts to move Isi-Uzo council from a rural to a semi-urban council in Enugu State.
“We have proposed N2.5 billion for recurrent expenditure. This is further divided into Personnel Costs/ Emoluments and Overhead Costs. Personnel Cost/Emoluments amounts to N2.2 billion while, Overhead Cost is summed to N250 million. Capital Expenditure takes N3.1 billion,” he said.
Listing some of the key capital proposals, he said in the budget Road and Bridges will gulp N860 million.
He said, “This is a great increase from the previous budget and reflects our poise for quality human resources management and to open-up the rural communities and create hazard-free transportation of goods and services.
“This is followed by Gender, Water and Housing, which is N285 million. Health is next with N226 million. This is followed by Power (Electrification) with N200 million. Agriculture is next with N181 million, representing a major increment from the previous budget.
“A very smart sector of our human and capital development, Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) gets N180 million, while Education is next with N163.8 million.
“It must be thankfully emphasised here that the Gov. Mbah’s administration has taken a huge burden off the LGAs through the Smart Green Schools initiative in 260 wards of the state. This major game-changer means that the government is investing over N1 billion in each ward.”
The chairman said that Poverty Alleviation and Employment generation earmarked N40 million, while administration would also implement projects and programmes in areas such as Youths and Sports, Environment Improvement and Social Re-orientation.
He expressed confidence in the ability of the budget to improve the fortunes of the LGA, promising to courageously push forward despite the vagaries of inflation and other economic headwinds across the nation.
“It is a bold step that is achievable. We want to sustain growth and transformation of Isi-Uzo as agents for change, progress and development in line with our governance mandate,” he said.
Accepting the budget and responding, the Leader of Isi-Uzo Legislative Council, Mr Irenus Nnaji, representing Mbu Ward II, commended the chairman for his robust, accountable and creative leadership, promising expedited passage of the budget.
Nnaji said, “We are equally ready and committed to supporting you in the implementation of the 2025 budget.
“We will work closely with you for the development of Isi-Uzo because we believe in the selfless leadership you have provided so far. But if you deviate from your current trajectory, we will equally call you out.”
Speaking, the Chairman of Isi-Uzo Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Okey Ogbodo, expressed satisfaction with the road infrastructural and agricultural development thrust of the Council.
Ogbodo commended local government autonomy under Gov. Mbah, noting that the governor had been injecting huge funds to implement projects to cover areas that are ordinarily the constitutional responsibilities of local government councils.
