The Chairman, Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State, Dr Eric Odo, on Monday, presented ₦5.4 billion budget estimate for 2025 to the Legislative Council.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the budget was christened the “Budget of Aggressive Economic Recovery and Good Governance”.
The chairman said that ₦2.71 billion is for recurrent expenditure, while the remaining ₦2.76 billion would be used to finance capital expenditure.
“This budget is a product of careful planning and consultations with stakeholders across all sectors in the council area.
“Our primary goal is to ensure that the people of Igbo-Etiti benefit directly from the council’s activities and the resources at our disposal.
“We aim to continue building on the progress we have made, while taking bold steps towards new development projects,” Odo said.
He also said that the budget was designed to accelerate the delivery of essential services to the people of the area.
According to him, the budget reflects his administration’s commitment to complete all ongoing construction and expansion of rural roads to ensure that all the communities in the area become accessible.
He affirmed his “unwavering determination to ensure the completion of the 16.5km Umuoka–Nkporogwu Ukehe–Ngele Okwete–Ugwuogo Road as well as other critical roads within the area.
“The strategies for successful implementation of 2025 budget included ensuring adequate resource allocations for the completion of ongoing projects.
“The 2025 budget will ensure prudence, transparency, accountability and traceability in all local government businesses and zero tolerance for corruption.
“We will eliminate wastage and other unjustifiable expenditures that have no direct link with improving the welfare of the people.
“Above all, we intend to expand the revenue base of Igbo-Etiti by upgrading ICT infrastructure to bring all the Internally Generated Revenue into one platform,” he said.
On education, Odo said that his administration would provide exercise books, desks, school sandals, socks, pen, pencil and other writing materials to all public schools in the area.
He pointed out that the budget would go a long way in implementing measures to increase children’s enrolment in schools.
“Any parent, whose child is caught hawking during school hours, will be arrested and jailed,” he said.
He pledged that his administration would remain transparent and thorough in the implementation of the budget, when passed.
Receiving the budget proposal, the Leader of the Legislative Council, Mr Stephen Okwu, promised that the council would give it accelerated hearing and passage. (NAN)
