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FULL TEXT: Governor Mbah presents 2024 Budget of Disruptive Economic Growth

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Enugu Governor, Dr Peter Mbah
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ADDRESS BY DR. PETER NDUBISI MBAH, GOVERNOR OF ENUGU STATE, DURING THE PRESENTATION OF THE STATE’S 2024 DRAFT ESTIMATES OF REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES TO THE ENUGU STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, HELD AT THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY COMPLEX, ENUGU ON TUESDAY 5TH DECEMBER, 2024

December 5, 2023

Protocols.

The Deputy Governor,

The Right Honourable Speaker,

The Secretary to the State Government

Principals Officers of the State House of Assembly

Honourable Members of the State House of Assembly

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The Chairman, PDP Enugu State Chapter

Members of Enugu State Executive Council

Chairmen of Boards and Parastalals

Permanent Secretaries, Clerk of the House

Gentlemen of the Press

Ladies and Gentlemen,

1. It is with great honour and a deep sense of responsibility that I stand before you today to present our State’s 2024-2026 Multi-Year Budget before this hallowed chamber.This event is of even more import given that it is this administration’s first full year budget, which will go a long way in setting the pace for the achievement of our growth objectives.
2. It is not so long ago that we presented the revised budget for 2023 before you honourable members of the House of Assembly, and I must again recognise your expedited consideration of that bill and put on record our appreciation for your commitment. In line with human nature, we have become accustomed to this level of commitment and therefore request that you deploy a similar degree of dispatch in your consideration of this current bill.
3. As you are aware, we had taken a bold view of the growth our State is capableachieving if we are willing to believe in ourselves and utilise our God given human and material resources to their fullest. Our vision remains ‘To make Enugu one of the top 3 states in Nigeria in terms of Gross Domestic Product and achieve a zero percent rate in the poverty headcount index’. We also intend to grow our GDP from the current $4.4b to $30b before 2031.
4. To achieve these ambitious goals, we have adopted a number of philosophies, which have also found expression in this budget I am presenting today. The first philosophy is that private sector involvement is critical to the generation of the growth that we seek, and consequently we must invest in the factors required to attract private sector investment such as basic infrastructure and amenities (like roads and water supply), transport services as well as modernisation and digitalisation of our public services and their associated processes. Secondly, we have taken the view that one of the surest ways of ensuring sustainable eradication of poverty is through the aggressive enhancement of our education and public health systems. After all we know that education corelates all over the globe with economic advancement and prosperity, while health on the other hand, is critical for the optimisation of the human resources of any nation or sub-national entity. Finally, but most critically, we have taken the view that reliance on allocations from FAAC has not served us well to date and is unlikely to take us to the ‘promised land’. Consequently, you will see in this budget a philosophy to maximise our internal revenue generation efforts, by improving the efficiency of collections, enhancing the efficacy of government services to the populace and evolving creative new revenue generation sources particularly by optimising our natural resources e.g. improved oversight and regulation of mining activities and landed assets.
5. Before going into the current budget proposal, permit me to cast a glance backwards at our performance in the past period. By end of year 2022, this Honourable House approved a budget size of One hundred and sixty-six billion, six hundred and two million, four hundred and sixteen thousand, seven hundred and seventy naira (N166,602,416,770).  During the 3rd quarter of 2023 there was need for a supplementary budget to accommodate new projects and programmes arising from priorities of the new administration in Enugu State and also to reflect the price variations due to inflation. The budget wastherefore revised to a tune of two hundred and twenty four billion, six hundred and ninety seven million, eight hundred and ninety nine thousand, and sixty three naira (N224,697,899,063).
6. Based on this revised budget we have been able to make some appreciable progress in fulfilling our promises to Ndi Enugu over the last few months. In our view, some of the more notable achievements have included the following:
a. We have recently launched the ultra modern water scheme at Ninth mile which has a daily production capacity of 70 million cubic meters(70,000,000m3) of clean water, combined with the production of 50 million cubic litres from Oji river, this gives a total daily volume of 120 million cubic meters a day as against less than 2,000,000m3 we meet on resumption of office. This achievementdisrupts over two decades water scarcity in Enugu urban, and alsofulfils our promise to Ndi Enugu to provide Enugu urban residents with water within 180 days.  
b. We have awarded contracts for the construction and rehabilitation work on the over 81 roads including several urban roads as well as some priority non-urban roads such as thedualization of Enugu Airport flyover, to Eke Obinagu and Ebonyi border approximately 22km and alsoconstruction of OwoUbahu-Ama Nkanu-Neke-ikem road of approximately 45km. As you may be aware work on these roads have since commenced.
c. We have also expanded the National Cash Transfer Register of the Federal Government from 43,000 to 260,000beneficiaries. The expansion was to accommodate more poor and vulnerable residents in the State in line with our Vision to eradicate poverty.  
d. We have commenced accumulation of 300,000 hectares of land for our land bank, which will be made available to corporate farmers for massive cultivation of agro produce. In line with this, one partner firm is alreadyplanting cassava under the pilot scheme of Cassava to Ethanol Programme in Aninri, Nkanu East, and Uzo Uwani LGAs. Related to this we are advancing conversations with key development agencies for the development of Special AgroProcessing Zones (SAPZs) in the 3 senatorial areas of the State.
e. We also held the Enugu State Investment Roundtable which attracted the best of the private sector as well asdevelopment partners such as AfDB, AFREXIM, FCDO, the WB, etc thus signalling our government’s zeal to transform Enugu State into private sector driven economy.
f. In line with our commitment to reinvent our education system in Enugu State we are constructing 260 Smart Model Basic Schools across the 260 Wards in the State which will rank amongst the best in the country.  The pilot Smart Model Basic School in Owo, Nkanu East Local Government Area is now ready for commissioning and similar Schools will be replicated in all the 260 Wards across the 17 LG Councils in the State.
g. We are also in the process of constructing 260 Type-2 Primary Health Centres across the 260 wards in the State to carter for the health needs of rural communities which are paramount in our health care agenda
h. Last but not least, in recognition that no economic growth is possible without security, we have ensured the discontinuation of the ignoble Monday sit-at-home campaign and boosted the security framework within the State with the introduction of the Distress Response Squad, which has recorded several successes, effectively bringing the crime rate in Enugu State to a bare minimum. We are going further by commencing the installation a CCTV surveillance network around the State.Work is at an advanced stage on this initiative.
7. The 2024-2026 Multi-Year Budget is named Budget of Disruptive Economic Growth. This is on account of the fact thatit is structured to drive growth in a markedly different pattern than we have attempted to do hitherto. This departure from the usual is most apparent in two main areas. Firstly, our approach to basic education where we are bringing into effect our cut off program through the development of the 260 model schools I had alluded to earlier. These Schools are unique not only in the fact that they will house the entire basic school classes from Creche to JS3, but also in terms of the significant changes we are making to the curriculum of the Children, where will be infusing new subject areas like Technology, robotics, Artificial Intelligence etc. In addition, the approach to teaching in these schools will be experiential, with extensive use of practicals, examples, dramatization, gamification etc. This naturally requires extensive re-training of our teachers to enable them grasp these new learning approaches as well as the various technology based teaching and learning tools which we shall deploy e.g. tablets, interactive white boards, Learning management systems etc. Beyond the ‘hard’ elements of learning, we will also infuse many ‘softer’ elements such as ethics, morals, critical thinking and hygiene to prepare our children to become the leaders we need tomorrow. Another major area of positive disruption that finds expression in this budget is our drive to change our approach to public service by infusing the use of technology. In this regard, we are in the process of developing a new automated approach to governance, that will involve the automation of all MDAs in the Government both in terms of how they run their internal operations and in terms of how they serve the populace. Upon conclusion of this transition to e-governance, it will be possible to initiate most government services without once visiting any government office or physically interacting with any public officer. This will result in increased operational efficiency in government and a higher level of service delivery with fewer revenue leakages. Implementing this will naturally require extensive training and re-training of our public servants to acquaint them with the both the new technological tools required as well as the improved work processes to be adopted in executing their work functions under this new dispensation.
8. Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, permit me to present the summary of recurrent and capital allocations and its proposed allocations to each sector that makes up this new Budget of Disruptive Economic Growth.
9. We are proposing a total budget of size of ₦ 521,561,386,000.00 for the 2024 fiscal year as against the approved revised provision of ₦ 224,697,899,063.00 for 2023. This represents a 132% increase from the 2023 revised budget. The budget is broken down as follows:

N

Recurrent Expenditure                                            

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107,227,266,000.00

Capital Expenditure

414,334,120,000.00

Total

521,561,386,000.00

10. In the area of our revenues, we estimated that total recurrent revenues during 2024 will amount to ₦383,789,000,000.00 as against the approved revised provision for 2023 of ₦143,571,592,917. The recurrent revenues for 2024 are broken down as follows:

N

Opening Balance

11,000,000,000

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Internally Generated Revenue (IGR)

252,789,000,000

Statutory Revenue

60,000,000,000

Excess Crude and others

16,000,000,000

Value Added Tax (VAT)                      

44,000,000,000

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Total Recurrent Revenue  

383,789,000,000

11. For 2024 Fiscal Year, Recurrent Expenditure which is proposed at ₦107,227,266,000.00 is made up of:

N

Personnel Costs

47,583,677,000

Overhead costs

41,804,698,000

Consolidated Rev. Fund Charges

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17,838,891,000

Total Recurrent Expenditure

107,227,266,000

12. With the total recurrent Expenditure at ₦ 107,227,266,000.00, this translates to a Net Recurrent Revenue of ₦ 276,561,734,000.00, which is thus transferred to the Capital Development Fund.
13. The total Capital Expenditure for the year 2024 is projected at ₦ 414,334,120,000.00 as against ₦135,715,099,693.00 for 2023 Revised Budget. The current capital expenditure estimate will be funded from, the sum of ₦ 276,561,734,000.00 to betransferred from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, and the capital receipts of ₦137,772,386,000.00 to be realized as follows:

N

External and Internal Aids and Grant      

27,922,386,000

Public Private Partnership                    

6,100,000,000

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Domestic loans/ Borrowings receipts

71,000,000,000

International loans/ Borrowings receipts

32, 750,000,000

                         Total                                    

137,772,386,000

14. On a sectorial basis, the Capital expenditure is broken down as follows:

N

Administration Sector    

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20, 877,662,350

Economic sector

207,837,753,513

Law & Justice Sector

1,225,643,490

Regional Sector

1,443,550,000

Social sector

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182,949,510,648

15. As I mentioned earlier, Education is a key plank in our strategy to eradicate poverty in our State. Consequently, ₦134,587,982,647.78 representing 73.6% of the social sector has been earmarked to help reinvent education in our state by developing the new Smart schools which I mentioned earlier as well as repositioning our senior secondary and tertiary institutions by training and retraining teachers and updating our curricula across all levels of education to infuse technology and technology appreciation and skills. This capital expenditure on education combined with the planned recurrent expenditure in the sector will bring our total spend on education to 33% of the total budget.
16. Healthcare remains paramount, especially in these challenging times. This budget allocates the sum of ₦ 21,777,421,000 to enhance healthcare facilities, expand access to quality healthcare services, and bolster our response to health emergencies. Our goal is to ensure every citizen has access to reliable and efficient healthcare. We pledge to upgrade healthcare facilities, ensure the availability of essential medicines, and implement initiatives to enhance public health awareness. In particular, we have commenced the construction of 260 Type-2 Primary Health Centres across the 260 wards in the State to carter for the health needs of rural communities.
17. We also understand the significance of infrastructural development in propelling economic growth. Hence, ₦82,535,147,361.03 is planned for road construction, maintenance, and rehabilitation of public building across the state. This initiative will facilitate smoother connectivity, bolster trade, and enhance overall accessibility and attract investments that create jobs.
18. ₦28, 970, 250, 000 is planned for the enhancement of the water sector to ensure safe and quality water supply to Ndi Enugu. This investment will ensure the expansion of the current water scheme by boosting reticulation of water across the Enugu Metropolis.
19. Agriculture remains a crucial sector in our drive towards self-sufficiency and economic diversification. We are committed to developing at a Special AgroProcessing Zone in each of the senatorial zones. In deed we have reached an understanding with a development agency for the first one on which work will commence this year. These zones will enable us support farmers with modern techniques, infrastructure, and access to markets, ultimately boosting food production and creating employment opportunities. We are also in advanced stages of discussions with funders for the development of a Quality Assurance Centre in Enugu to facilitate the export of agro commodities from the Enugu Airport.In order to achieve this, a sum of ₦25,184,154,671.81 has been earmarked for this sector in the 2024 budget.
20. Additionally, this budget prioritizes job creation, empowerment programs for our youth, and initiatives to attract private sector investment. We are dedicated to fostering an environment that encourages entrepreneurship and innovation, thereby unlocking the full potential of our vibrant populace.
21. Furthermore, we are committed to ensuring good governance, accountability, and the prudent management of public funds. We will work tirelessly to eradicate corruption and promote a culture of transparency in all government activities Fiscal prudence and accountability will remain at the core of our financial management. We will ensure transparency in the utilization of resources, optimizing every naira to deliver maximum value for the citizens of Enugu State.
22. To support our fiscal initiatives and improve implementation effectiveness, this administration will also pursue the following initiatives:
a. Sustain an effective collaboration with Security Agencies and strengthen our logistic support to remain among the most peaceful States in Nigeria.
b. Increase Public Private Partnership (PPP) with relevant investors to invest in the key sectors of the State economy and undertake robust human capital development.
c. Expand the industrial base of the State through rapid industrialization and harnessing of untapped mineral resources in the State.
d. Provide an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive through extensive improvement in the Ease of Doing Business ranking of the State.
e. Increase the domestic revenue base (IGR) significantly by eliminating evasion and leakages in collection and expenditure
f. Develop the tourism potentials of the State and enhance creative industry.
g. Stimulate the Agricultural and Agro-allied industries to boost production of local farmers to ensure food sufficiency for local consumption, exports as well as the provision of raw materials for the industries.
h. Rapid empowerment of children, women and youth through capacity building, empowerment, skill acquisition and elimination of gender discrimination practices.
i. Re-orientation of public servants, through training & retraining, effective intra and inter MDAs collaboration by digitizing operations to enhance service delivery
j. Provide recreational and sporting facilities to increase life expectancy, boost sports development and ensure improved performance of the State representatives at Local, National and International sporting competitions.
k. Strengthen performance monitoring mechanism with central coordinating unit at the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning Commission.
l. Improve fiscal transparency and accountability in all MDAs with emphasis on Due process and cost effectiveness in all programs and projects of government.
m. Mr. Speaker and Honourable Members, this our budget of Disruptive Economic Growth represents our collective aspirations and endeavors to build a more prosperous, inclusive, and resilient Enugu State. Consequently, I urge all stakeholders to join hands in this journey towards a better future for all residents. Together, we will achieve greatness and leave a legacy of progress for generations to come.
23. Thank you and God bless you and the entire people of Enugu State. I wish you a happy Christmas and a prosperous new year.  Certainly, our Tomorrow is here!

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Enugu Labour Party Chairman Agbo suspended over attack on Peter Obi, other offences

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Suspended Enugu Labour Party, LP, Chairman, Casmir Agbo
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A major crisis is rocking the Enugu State chapter of Labour Party, LP, as the State Working Committee of the party and local government chairmen on Tuesday announced the suspension the state chairman, Barr. Casmir Agbo.

They passed a vote of no confidence on his leadership saying he had engaged in acts that were against the interest of the party in the state.

The leaders of the party in a communique made available to newsmen at the end of their meeting in Enugu among other things, accused their chairman of insubordination, attack of the party’s national leader, Peter Obi, alleged collection of bribe and replacement of elected party leaders without due process.

The communique which was signed by 14 out of the 17 LG chairmen, zonal chairmen and other elected executives of the party also announced the appointment of Chief Kingsley Chideraa Ugwu to pilot the affairs of the party pending when the party will hold its congress.

“The Enugu State Labour Party has taken a significant step in holding its leadership accountable by passing a vote of no confidence in the State Labour Party Chairman, Barr. Casmir Uchenna Agbo.
This unanimous decision taken by the State Working Committee and Local Government Party Chairmen reflects the party’s commitment to upholding its values and principles.

“The vote of no confidence was taken due to litanies of anti party activities perpetuated and perpetrated by Barr. Casmir Uchenna Agbo and his cohorts.The following under listed reasons are the reasons for this vote of no confidence and/suspension:

1. serious concerns regarding Barr. Casmir’s handling of recent activities or failure to uphold the pary’s mission and values.
2. The organization’s members have lost confidence in Casmir’s ability to effectively guide the party forward.

3. insurbodination, acerbic, vitriolic attacks and abuse of the personality of our national leader, Mr. Gregory Peter Obi.

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4. Non recognition and sidelining of the party’s elected members and other stakeholders.
5. It’s established that Barr. Casmir Uchenna Agbo runs the party like his private enterprise by taking unilateral decisions.

6. It’s on record that Barr. Casmir Uchenna Agbo demanded and took bribes from our party candidates during the recently concluded local government elections.

7. It’s also on record that Barr. Casmir Uchenna Agbo remove and replace party excos both at ward, local government and state levels without recourse to the party’s constitution and with scanty regard to the opinions of the party stakeholders.”

The party leaders said the decision was taken “with a heavy heart, but we believe it is necessary to ensure the pary’s’ continued success and integrity.
We will now begin the process of selecting a new Chairman who shares our vision and values in acting capacity.

“The party remains committed to its mission and values and is confident that this decision will ultimately strengthen, regig and recalibrate the party. We appreciate the support of our members and stakeholders during this transition period.

“It’s on the strength of the foregoing developments that we recommend that Barr. Casmir Uchenna Agbo be suspended forthwith.

“Drawing strength from the above recommendation by the strength State and Local Government Excos, the motion for his suspension was moved by Hon. Chinweuba Ngwu of Enugu South and dutifully seconded by Mazi Augustine Umezuluike(Mason) of Ezeagu Local Government Area.

“Consequent upon this, Chief Kingsley Chideraa Ugwu was appointed in acting capacity to replace Barr. Casmir Uchenna Agbo pending when the party congress would be conducted. The motion for the nomination of the acting Chairman was moved by Hon Chinweuba Ngwu and seconded Mazi Augustine Umezuluike.”

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Barr. Agbo could not be reached for his reaction to the suspension.

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Arrest threat: I’m being forced to go on exile, El-Rufai cries out

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El-Rufai
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Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has alleged that some political forces are attempting to force him into self-imposed exile through intimidation and threats of arrest.

El-Rufai said this in reaction to claims by a Twitter user that there were plans to arrest El-Rufai upon his return to Nigeria on “concocted allegations.”

El-Rufai, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), accused unnamed political figures of attempting to use the judicial system against him.

He said such threats were part of a larger plan to force him into self-imposed exile but noted that he has no intention of leaving the country.

“They freaked out when we challenged the legality of the premeditated defamation, and went to every length to compromise the judicial process, and this is continuing at the Court of Appeal,” El-Rufai disclosed on X on Tuesday.

“They have sent such similar messages of intimidation and threats through many of my friends, family and political associates because they want me to go on self-imposed exile. I will not.“

However, El-Rufai noted that he had put his “previous academic” and “language-learning plans” on hold to spend more time in Nigeria than ever before.

He noted that “Silence is no longer golden. Inaction has never been an option.

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“The arrest, detention and torture of perceived political enemies are nothing new in human affairs. I have been arrested and detained thrice in the past for expressing my views of previous governments.”

El-Rufai also noted that he has been “arrested and detained thrice in the past for expressing my views of previous governments.”

The arrest, detention and torture of perceived political enemies are nothing new in human affairs, El-Rufai added.

He, however, disclosed that he plans to return to Nigeria for the upcoming launch of former President Ibrahim Babangida’s memoirs on February 20, 2025.

“There is always a morning after the arrest or detention or torture, and political life continues. As for death, it when Allah destines it, and it is ultimate the date of every human,” El-Rufai said.

“For the attention of the pathetic characters that don’t sleep well whenever I am in Nigeria, take notice that I intend to return in time for the launch of Pres IBB’s memoirs, in sha Allah, scheduled for 20th February.”

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Public outcry as MTN raises weekly 15GB Data price from N2,000 to N6,000

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MTN Nigeria has raised the price of its weekly 15GB data plan to N6,000 from N2,000 to the outcry of many Nigerians.
This increment is part of a recently approved 50 percent hike in the price of telecom services.

Many MTN Nigeria subscribers have taken to X to express their frustrations. “Nigeria is a very difficult place to live in, honestly. MTN waking up one day to increase their weekly 15 GB data from 2k to 6k without prior warning is textbook insanity. That’s 24k in a month, almost the minimum wage of the country on data, bruh, this is hell,” tweeted @TheSilvapr.

“MTN increasing the cost of its 15 GB data subscription from 2k to 6k is a significant price hike, and it reflects the true economic and business realities rather than just a random decision. Complaining Won’t Change Anything because Telecom operators have to operate within a profit-driven system,” wrote @official_GZU.

Aside from the 15GB tariff plan increase, the telco has also raised the cost of other plans. The revised price increase now includes a 1.8GB monthly plan for N1,500, replacing the previous 1.5GB plan priced at N1,000.

Its 20GB plan has been adjusted to N7,500, up from N5,500, while the 15GB plan now costs N6,500, up from N4,500. Its 90-day 1.5TB plan has jumped from N150,000 to N240,000, and the 600GB 90-day plan increased from N75,000 to N120,000. Its two/three-month data plan of 100GN for N20,000 is now 90GB for N25,000; 160GB for N30,000 is now 150GB for N40,000.

For now, Airtel and Globacom are yet to review their prices. However, all telcos are expected to follow MTN’s lead after the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) approved a 50 percent increase in the cost of calls, data, and SMS on January 20 for the first time in a decade.

The hike is meant to support “the ability of operators to continue investing in infrastructure and innovation, ultimately benefiting consumers through improved services and connectivity, including better network quality, enhanced customer service, and greater coverage.”

However, telcos could not immediately increase prices as they were waiting for regulatory approval from the NCC. “We don’t have the price increase in our hands because, even though it has been announced and based on Section 108, every single product that you want to increase its price has to go to the NCC, be iterated, and approved,” one expert explained.

At an industry gathering on January 25, Gbenga Adebayo, the chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), noted that phased increment would begin soon.

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“We are now following what is called the regulatory requirement, regulatory steps of filing, reviewing, and obtaining approvals. As soon as those approvals come through, different players will introduce new rates as the time comes. I’ll say over next week, we start seeing some improvement in the prices,” he stated. (

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