By Kamsi Anayo
Gov. Charles Soludo of Anambra state on Thursday presented a revised draft budget of N170 billion for 2022 to the State House of Assembly for approval.
Soludo, said the purpose of the 2022 Revised budget was to reflect current realities, challenges, priorities of the new administration and the dire needs residents in Anambra.
He said that the budget was made up of N108 billion capital expenditure, accounting for 64 per cent compared to the previous 57 per cent and N61.3 billion recurrent expenditure, translating to 36 per cent compared to 43 per cent in the previous budget.
Soludo said that N19 billion would be spent on personnel cost while N23 billion would be spent on overheads.
The breakdown indicates that Ministry of Works has the highest allocation, from N23 billion in the previous budget of N54 billion, followed by healthcare which was reduced from N4.4 billion to N2.9 billion.
Ministries of Agriculture and Education were allocated N1.5 billion and N1.1 billion respectively, while Youth Development and Transportation got N2.4 billion and N1.6 billion respectively.
Ministry of Power and Water Resources got N2.3 billion while Ministry of Culture, Entertainment and Tourism got N2.7 billion.
The Governor said his administration would continue with the ‘Community Choose Your Project’ initiative of his Predecessor, which was increased from N20 million to N25 million per community.
“The 2022 Revised budget seeks to achieve four pillars of economic transformation, social agenda, governance, Rule of Law and value as well as greener and healthier environment.
“We inherited challenges of which red treasury and insecurity were the most acute. But I am emboldened by the massive support and solidarity of the people. We are Anambra people, and together, we shall overcome!
” Give us the budget urgently, and by the time our people come home for Christmas, we will all be proud that we are serving the people well,” he said.
Soludo informed the House that security agencies were working round the clock to secure the release of the kidnapped lawmaker, Dr Okechukwu Okoye representing Aguata Constituency Il.
Receiving the budget, the Speaker of the House, Mr Uche Okafor, said the legislature would partner with the Governor by enacting laws that would ensure the success of his administration.
He also assured the governor that the draft budget would receive expeditious consideration.
