Anambra Governor Willie Obiano has proposed N137.1 billion budget for 2020 fiscal year
This is the first time a Governor of Anambra State since the berth of Democracy had presented a budget for any fiscal year in September.
Presenting the budget to the Anambra House of Assembly on Thursday, he projected N58.69 billion representing 43 percent for recurrent expenditure while 78.3 billion, representing 57 percent, was for capital expenditure.
The budget, with the theme :Accelerating Infrastructural Development and Youth Entrepreneurship , had road works and Infrastructure as the highest with a vote of N22.2 billion.
It was followed by education with a vote of N 8.3 billion for the year while Health came third with N6.98 billion.
Obiano, said his vision remained to “make Anambra state the first choice investment destination and Hub for industrialization and Commercial Activities ”
Also, his mission, is “to make Anambra state a socially stable, business friendly environment that would attract both indigenes and foreigners to seek wealth creating opportunities”
According to him: “In the past fiscal year, the operating environment has presented the stiffest challenges in recent national memory, herdsmen -farmers clashes, widespread kidnappings and general insecurity, heavy flooding of coastal Communities and increasing boldness of ethnic militia groups and agitators have created the fear of the unknown and adversely affected investors confidence in the National economy”
“Over the same period, we have made great efforts to grow the economy of Anambra state, curb insecurity and preserve our reputation as Nigeria’s safest state”
“Consequently, we have grown our GDP from 3.8 trillion naira in 2016 to 4.0 trillion in 2017 at the rate of 5.73 percent and it is expected to hit 4.2 trillion mark in 2018 GDP report, based on the preliminary figures from state Bureau of statistics. We have retained our position as the fourth largest economy in Nigeria, our target is to leapfrog to number 1” Obiano said
The Speaker Uche Okafor commended the Governor for being the first to present his 2020 budget in the country.
He promised that the cordial relationship existing between the legislature and the Executive must continue to achieve the aims of Ndi Anambra.
He assured the Governor and the people of the state that the 2020 budget would hit the ground running by January 1st, 2020