By Ken Stanley

The Chairman of Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area in Enugu State, Dr Eric Odo, has presented the 2025 budget estimate of ₦5.4 billion to the Legislative Council of the area for approval.

Odo made the budget presentation, christened: “Budget of Aggressive Economic Recovery and Good Governance”, on Monday at the Legislative chamber of the council’s secretariat in Ogbede.

The chairman noted that ₦2.71 billion of the total budget would go into recurrent expenditure; while the remaining ₦2.76 billion would be used to finance capital expenditure.

“This budget is a product of careful planning and consultations with stakeholders across all sectors in the council area.

“Our primary goal is to ensure that the people of Igbo-Etiti benefit directly from the council’s activities and the resources at our disposal.

“We aim to continue building on the progress we have made while taking bold steps towards new developmental projects,” Odo said.

While highlighting the projects attached to the budget, the council boss emphasised that it was designed to accelerate the delivery of essential services to the people of Igbo-Etiti.

According to him, the budget reflects his administration’s commitment to complete all ongoing construction and expansion of rural roads to ensure that all communities in the area are accessible.

He reiterated his unwavering determination to ensure the completion of the 16.5km Umuoka–Nkporogwu Ukehe–Ngele Okwete–Ugwuogo Road as well as other critical roads within the council area.

“The strategies for successful implementation of the 2025 budget included ensuring adequate resources allocations for the completion of ongoing projects.

“The 2025 budget will ensure prudence, transparency, accountability and traceability in all local government businesses and zero tolerance for corruption.

“We will eliminate wastage and other unjustifiable expenditures that have no direct link on improving the welfare of the people.

“Above all, we intend to expand the revenue base of the Igbo-Etiti by upgrading ICT infrastructure to bring all the Internal Generated Revenue (lGR) into one platform,” he noted.

On education, Odo revealed that his administration would provide exercise books, desks, school sandals, socks, pen, pencil and other writing materials to all public schools in the council.

He pointed out the budget would go a long way in implementing measures to increase children enrollment in schools, noting: “Any parent whose child is caught hawking will be arrested and jailed.”

He pledged that his administration would remain transparent and thorough in the implementation of the budget when passed.

Receiving the budget proposal, the Leader of the Legislative Council, Mr Stephen Okwu, promised that the legislative council would give the budget an accelerated hearing and passage.

The high point of the event was the laying of the budget before the lawmakers.