Fides Media Living the Faith
…Signs 2023 Budget Of Acceleration into Law
Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has promised to give priority attention to all sectors. The governor stated this after he signed the 2023 appropriation budget of approximately N260 billion Naira, into law, last Tuesday at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, reports Jude Atupulazi.
He said he would get all the pillars of the budget simultaneously done. They include: security, law and order, social agenda, health, education, human capital development, power, technology, industrial parks, agriculture, and commerce.
‘We are leaving no one behind. We are hitting everywhere, reforming the government, promoting accountability and prudence, digitizing our land registries.
‘Our environment is an existential threat. We shall desilt, control our drainages and erosions, waste management; none of them can wait until the others are done.
‘The accelerator pedal has five pedals and we will keep pedalling simultaneously; that’s the way we can get it in order. The sequence doesn’t mean the others will be left behind.
‘Our human capital is our major resource. Our overall agenda is to make Anambra a livable and prosperous smart megacity and this budget contributes to the glorious Anambra we dream of.
‘The parliament had earlier in June approved for the government to borrow 100 billion Naira to fund this budget but up to this moment, we haven’t borrowed a dime.
‘We are hitting the ground running. Our focus is that Anambra maintains fiscal sustainability. Anambra will continue to win. We are swinging into action to get our roads motorable,’ the governor stressed.
He said his government faced what he described as unprecedented flooding that caused roads to be washed off and noted they were major interventions the government had embarked upon, as well as what he described as the massive construction going on.
His words, ‘Anambra is spending close to two billion Naira on federal roads because most of them are not motorable. Our people are facing untold hardships passing through these roads.
‘These are some of the strategic interventions the state government has embarked upon. They are not the typical palliatives but built to last.
‘We are delivering quality roads to our people and ensuring the palliatives endure for some time.
Addressing the media, the governor appreciated the State House of Assembly for the ‘expeditious passage of the budget’.
He said the more fundamental job had been done by the State House of Assembly; just as he thanked the parliament for what he termed its productive partnership, noting that they were partners in his government’s transformation agenda for Anambra State.
‘The Leadership has shown capacity and passed this budget into law while we strive assiduously to lead Anambra into the land of our dreams as we promised the people.
‘This is a budget of acceleration in spite of all the odds and challenges in the country but we are still pressing the accelerator for take off.
‘This budget prioritizes major areas of focus for Anambra State: security, law and order, economic transformation and human capital development, etcetera,’ the governor said.
‘That’s the Anambra spirit. We get things done! Thanks to the speaker, the State House of Assembly and the whole team.
‘Thanks to everyone who was able to make it early this morning. It’s quite a remarkable day. We are set to deliver for next year. With the budget in hand, let’s get it done,’ Soludo urged.
In attendance at the brief event were the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim; Speaker, Anambra House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Uche Okafor; Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Ms. Chiamaka Nnake; Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr Tonycollins Nwabunwanne; former Speaker, Anambra House of Assembly and Special Adviser, on House of Assembly Matters, Rt. Hon. Anayo Nnebe; Majority Leader of the House of Assembly, Hon. Emeka Aforka; Clerk of the House, Hon. Esther Anetoh, among others.