ANAMBRA STATE GOVT. PRESENTS 2021 BUDGET PROPOSAL OF #143.7B
Reporter : ONYINYE CHIJIOBI
Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State has presented the 2021 Budget proposal of #143.7b to the State House of Assembly.
The budget proposal is higher than the revised approved budget of 2020.
Presenting the Appropriation Bill tagged, ‘Budget for Socio Economic Recovery and Consolidation’, Governor Willie Obiano said the capital expenditure constituted 60.5 percent of the budget while 39.5 percent represented recurrent expenditure.
The Governor said 86.9 billion naira representing 60. 5 percent of the capital budget, was alloted to the economic sector, while 22. 9 percent was for the social sector.
A breakdown of the budget shows that the Education sector will take 5 point zero billion naira, Health has 6 point 8 billion, water resources and public utilities, 3 point 77 billion, small and medium enterprises development will gulp 2 billion naira.
The Ministry of Youth Empowerment and Creative economy has
5.4 billion naira Environment Ministry got 3.4 billion naira while roads and bridges got the lion share of 32 billion naira.
However, 5.8 billion naira will go to the Anambra International Airport Umueri and 500 million naira for the completion of International Conference Center Awka.
He noted that the budget proposal was in line with the prevailing economic realities on ground, including the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chief Obiano said that the proposed budget would consolidate on the 2020 fiscal expenditure with which he said his administration had revved up the pace of development in health, education and social investments, among others.
He added that the proposed budget was prepared amidst the global economic challenges occasioned by the COVID-19 with a view to revamping the ailing economy to a buoyant state through strategic investments in critical sectors.
The Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Mr Uche Okafor assured the Governor that the Assembly would ensure a speedy passage of the bill to enable the people benefit from more dividend of democracy.
Mr Okafor noted that all the commissioners and heads of corporations would be invited to defend their estimates.
Majority Leader, Mr Nnamdi Okafor moved the motion for the adoption of the Appropriation Bill, seconded by the Minority Leader, Mr Onyebuchi Offor.