Thursday, 28th March 2024
To guardian.ng
Search
Breaking News:

Okorocha presents N191b 2018 budget proposal to Imo Assembly

By Charles Ogugbuaja, Owerri
14 December 2017   |   4:17 am
Governor Rochas Okorocha yesterday presented a budget proposal of N190,921,464,290 for the 2018 fiscal year to the Imo State House of Assembly. The presentation...

Rochas Okorocha

Governor Rochas Okorocha yesterday presented a budget proposal of N190,921,464,290 for the 2018 fiscal year to the Imo State House of Assembly. The presentation was N59, 778, 320, 013 higher than the N131, 143, 144, 277 figure for this year. The difference represents 46 per cent

In the estimates tagged, “Budget of Consolidation and Continuity III”, N132.98 billion, representing 70 per cent is for capital expenditure while N57.943 billion goes for recurrent expenditure. Works and Transport Ministry got the lion share of N39,811,300,000, followed by education sector which received N13, 500,000,000 and Agriculture and Environment was allocated N7,622,990,049.

A further breakdown shows that N440,244,096 went to culture.

While laying the document on the floor of the House in Owerri, the governor said: “The 2018 budget will not only consolidate our developmental efforts but also ensure prudence and efficiency in our expenditure programmes.”

Okorocha went on: “This administration intends to use the limited resources at our disposal to achieve maximum impact. We intend to strike synergy through collaboration and integration of programmes and projects at all levels in order to realise our vision of making Imo better.

“All relevant agencies of government will be strengthened to ensure that all programmes and projects are monitored all times.”

He reviewed his scorecard since coming on board in 2011, declaring: “The state was characterised by excessive traffic congestion in Owerri, Orlu and Okigwe. Insecurity, particularly in the areas of kidnapping and armed robbery, was prevalent across the 27 local government areas.

“All these constituted part of the major challenges the administration faced when it came on board in 2011. However, these problems have been progressively addressed. A quick review of our journey since the creation of Imo 41 years ago will reveal that the achievements so far recorded in the state since this government assumed office have been remarkable. I give glory to Almighty God for this.

“It is part of the hallmarks of democracy to unmask the potential of the citizens and properly channel resources towards economic growth.’’

In this article

0 Comments