GOV UZODINMA PROPOSES BUDGET OF OVER #340BN FOR IMO IN 2021

Reporter : CHINAZO ILECHUKWU

Imo State Government has proposed to spend three hundred and forty-six-point-one billion naira for its services in the 2021 financial year.

Of the figure, two hundred and seventy-one point-five billion naira, representing seventy-eight-point-four percent of the budget would be spent on capital projects while seventy-four-point-six billion, representing twenty-one-point-six percent, was allotted to recurrent expenditure.

Presenting the appropriation bill tagged “Budget of Wealth Creation,” the state Governor, Chief Hope Uzodimma, said the budget was predicated on the policy trust of his administration, which focused on Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction.

He said the government would increase its internally generated revenue, embark on job creation, increase agriculture, improve security for citizens and infrastructural development.

 Governor Uzodimma stated that payment of new national minimum wage to workers in the state would commence in January next 2021, noting that despite the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the state recorded tremendous achievements.

Governor Uzodimma urged the state House of Assembly to give the document accelerated passage while assuring that his administration would continue to provide good governance to ensure that people attained their yearnings and aspirations.

The Speaker Imo State House of Assembly, Chief Paul Emeziem, commended the Executive for demonstrating commitment towards addressing infrastructural deficit in the state and promised to give the budget accelerated passage.

The 2021 budget proposal recorded more than two hundred percent increase over that of 2020.