By Ifeoma Ejiofor
The Anambra State governor, Prof Charles Soludo yesterday presented the revised 2022 budget to the Anambra State House of Assembly.
Prof Soludo tagged the revised budget “Taking Off from the Blocks.”
The purpose of the 2022 Revised budget according to the governor is to reflect current realities, challenges, and priorities of the new administration and Ndi Anambra.
“The Revised budget size is about N170 billion versus the existing appropriation of N142 billion (with the capital expenditure accounting for 64% compared to 57% previously). Capital expenditure increased by 33% from N81 billion to N108 billion while Recurrent expenditure increased marginally by 0.79% from N60 billion.
“We left the budget on security unchanged while we count on off budget resources from donations to augment. As a reflection of our Agenda, about 60% of the Capital Expenditure is targeted at delivering infrastructure that the average citizen can feel, see, use or touch and which have the highest developmental impact within the shortest possible time.” He said.
Gov Soludo said that about N52 billion or about 31% of the total budget is for the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure and we intend to simultaneously invest in roads in most of the local governments, paying special attention to our urban regeneration agenda.
He said further that he has requested the Federal Government to intervene on emergency basis on a number of federal roads in the state that have become nightmarish death traps.
“We plan to recruit qualified medical doctors and nurses for our general hospitals and upscale the infrastructure in selected ones. We have already received over 26,000 applications in response to our advertisement to recruit and train teachers for our primary and secondary schools.” He noted.
Gov Soludo revealed during the presentation that his administration would continue the ‘Community Choose Your Project’ initiative of his predecessor noting that he has raised the value of the community projects to N25 million per community.
He appreciated all the former and incumbent duty bearers in the state, especially his immediate predecessor, Chief Willie Obiano even as he expressed his preparedness to move the state to greater heights.