BUDGET CITIZENS ENGAGEMENT: TRADITIONAL RULER TASK ENUGU STATE GOVERNMENT ON VITAL COMMUNITY ROAD PROJECTS

REPORTER: EMEFIENA OKONKWO

Enugu State Government says it has always involved the people and would continue to do so in its budget making and implementation.

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi stated this in a message to the 2023 Fiscal Year Citizens Engagement and Disemmination of 2021 Citizens Accountability Report Conference in Enugu.

The Governor represented by the Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Dr. Ada Onah- Kene Unyanwunne, stressed that budget making and its implementation were of great importance to the government, hence the reason to engage the people.

Earlier in an address, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic planning, Dr. David Ugwunta, pointed out that the State government had successfuly executed numerous development projects that had impacted positively in the lives of the people.

Dr. Ugwunta also noted that the state government over the past seven years and  through several platforms, including Visit Every Community (VEC) project, had involved the people in budget making and implementation, ensuring that the yearnings of the people were captured and streamlined in the budget.

Thanking the Enugu State Government for the development projects executed in the state so far, one of the participants and traditional ruler of Amoji Nike in Enugu East Local Government Area, Igwe Titus Okolo, urged the government to construct the road that would link Ukana and Umulumgbe, Abor to Nike as well as dualize the Nike-Opi-Nsukka road.

Other traditional rulers at the event called for the strenghtening of security at the northern part of Enugu State to avert food crisis in the zone.

In separate submissions youth and women organizations led by Dr. Ebuka Okoh and Dr. Vera Ezeugwu, as well Presidents-General of town unions in the state represented by Chief Arinze Ogbodo, called for the establishment of ICT hubs in the three senatorial zones of the state as well as more skills acquisition centers and training for youths and involvement of more  women in governance.

The event was well attended by people from all walks of life, including the Special Adviser to the Governor on Financial matters, Professor Paschal Okolie and the Chairman, Enugu State Chapter, Christian Association of Nigeria CAN, the Most Reverend Emmanuel Edeh.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU