The Council Chairman of Isi-Uzo, of Enugu State, Hon. Obiora Obeagu has proposed a budget of N5.5bn budget estimates for the 2025 fiscal year to the Legislative Council of the Local Government Area, LGA.

Obeagu noted that the estimates tagged Budget of Economic Growth and Transformation was an increase from the N4.153 billion 2024 budget and consistent with Governor Peter Mbah’s effort to ramp up the state’s economy exponentially from $4.4 billion to $30 billion through private sector investment and catalysation of productivity in rural areas.

He said the 2025 budget would give effect to the Council’s 2025-2026 Rolling Plan that aims to produce more food to ensure food security; enhance employment opportunities; rehabilitate, equip, and intensify primary healthcare delivery facilities and system; develop and invest in tourism and market projects; improve in transportation system through rehabilitation of existing rural roads and the construction of new ones and enforce quality education and academic grants.

He stressed that the budget funding would benefit from a significant improvement in the Council’s IGR predicated on ventures like the development of several markets, real estates, and plugging of loopholes in revenue collection, among others.

Presenting the budget at the Council headquarters, Ikem, Obeagu said, “We have named it the Budget of Economic Growth and Transformation. It is a budget anchored on our firm resolve to open up the economic corridors and potentials of our landlocked local government in our determined efforts to move Isi-Uzo from a rural to a semi-urban LGA.

“We have proposed N2,498,390,040 for recurrent expenditure. This is further divided into Personnel Costs/ Emoluments and Overhead Costs. Personnel Cost/Emoluments amounts to N2,248,390,040.00, while, Overhead Cost is summed to N250,000,000.00. Capital Expenditure takes N3,059,800,000.”

Listing some of the key capital proposals, he continued, “In respect to proposed capital projects, Road and Bridges will get N860 million. This is a great increase from the previous budget and reflects our poise for quality human resources management and to open-up the rural communities and create hazard-free transportation of goods and services.

“This is followed by Gender, Water and Housing, which is N285 million. Health is next with N226 million. This is followed by Power (Electrification) with N200 million. Agriculture is next with N181 million, representing a major increment from the previous budget.

“A very smart sector of our human and capital development, Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) gets N180 million, while Education is next with N163.8 million. It must be thankfully emphasised here that the Governor Peter Mbah Administration has taken a huge burden off the LGAs through the Smart Green Schools initiative in 260 wards of the state. This major game-changer means that the government is investing over N1 billion in each ward.

“Another seminal sector, Poverty Alleviation and Employment generation gets N40 million, in our Council budget for 2025. Our administration will also implement projects and programmes in areas such as Youths and Sports, Environment Improvement and Social Re-orientation.”

He expressed confidence in the ability of the budget to improve the fortunes of the LGA, promising to courageously push forward despite the vagaries of inflation and other economic headwinds across the nation.

“Our current budget proposal looks handsome by the standards of our Local Government Council. The 2025 budget estimates look as a progressive push-up from where we are to a new height that we want to attain.

“We are not unmindful of the fact of inflation and depreciation of the value of the naira arising from the removal of oil subsidy and devaluation of naira. Costs of goods and services have risen while the purchasing power and value of the naira has dropped considerably. But in the midst of these intervening factors, we are determined to be creative and make progress boldly, following our governor’s example.

“It is a bold step that is achievable. We want to sustain growth and transformation of Isi-Uzo as agents for change, progress and development in line with our governance mandate.

“We promised that we would make a difference in the lives of our people. We are determined to walk our talk as demanded by our governor during our inauguration and in line with his determination to grow the state’s economy from $4.4bn to $30bn.”

Meanwhile, the Leader of Isi-Uzo Legislative Council, Hon. Irenus Nnaji, representing Mbu Ward II, commended the Council Chairman for his robust, accountable, and creative leadership of the Council, promising expedited consideration and passage of the budget.

“We are equally ready and committed to supporting you in the implementation of the 2025 budget. I repeat, we will work closely with you for the development of Isi-Uzo because we believe in the selfless leadership you have provided so far. But if you deviate from your current trajectory, we will equally call you out,” he stated.

Speaking to newsmen after the budget presentation session witnessed by leaders and key stakeholders of the LGA, the Chairman of Isi-Uzo Traditional Rulers Council, HRH Igwe Okey Ogbodo, an engineer by profession, expressed satisfaction with the road, infrastructural, and agricultural development thrust of the Council, saying that it would accentuate Governor Mbah’s effort to give rural communities a better and more prosperous life.