Fides Media Living the Faith
By Ikeugonna Eleke
The Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has assented to the 2022 Revised Appropriation Budget of N170 billion Naira.
The Anambra State House of Assembly had last Tuesday passed the budget tagged, “Building Off from the Blocks”, during a sitting of the house.
Signing the budget into law, Soludo commended members of the House of Assembly for being diligent, responsible and responsive to their job as lawmakers and representatives of the people of Anambra State.
He canvassed for stronger synergy between the legislative and other arms of government at all levels.
Soludo said: ‘The patriotic and responsive manner the budget was passed by the State House of Assembly is not only commendable but signalled the birth of a new partnership for a greater Anambra.
‘There were no underhand dealings in signing the budget; rather, the process was conducted with integrity, patriotism and responsiveness.’
The governor recounted that in his campaign manifesto, N250 billion Naira was estimated as the amount required to build critical infrastructure towards the realisation of a livable and prosperous homeland in the state.
He lamented, however, that the resources at government disposal were abysmally lean, as well as the earnings from the oil sector, which, he noted, had become so low.
Consequently, Governor Soludo said the government was left with no option other than to come up with multiple strategies, including taking a look at the state’s expenditure and introducing prudence in spending.
He also stated as part of the measures to improve government finances, Efforts were also being made to digitize the internally generated revenue of the state to eliminate leakages
He further explained that in the interim, his administration had decided to borrow N100 billion Naira, as Ndi Anambra could not wait, emphasizing that not the whole amount would be spent this year.
He stated categorically that the borrowed money would be used for critical infrastructural development, particularly in building roads, bridges, among others and would eventually be repaid. He again reiterated that there would be absolute prudence in making sure Ndi Anambra got value for the money borrowed, assuring that every kobo would be judiciously used to create wealth that would benefit the people of the state.