Jacob Ogodo Abakaliki
Ebonyi state Governor, Chief Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, has proposed a budget estimate of three hundred and ninety six billion, five hundred and eighty nine million, nine hundred and sixty two thousand naira (N396,589,9620.00bn) for the 2025 fiscal year .
Presenting the estimate entitled “Budget of Economic and social development” at the hallowed Chambers of Ebonyi House of Assembly on Thursday, Nwifuru said he was at the Chambers to present the budget for proper legislative action and to show the projected revenue and expenditure.
This represents a 0.98 percent increase over the 2024 budget .
The proposed estimates is made up of N284,515,148000bn Capital Expenditure, and a Recurrent Expenditure component of N112, 073, 861,620bn .
The estimate saw a tremendous improvement in the Health sector which takes greater chunk of N70, 143,386bn while
Education sectors followed by N39,012,563bn
Governor Nwifuru noted that his administration believes that educational training should be repositioned to guarantee entrepreneurial knowledge and the acquisition of skills for economic self-reliance at all levels.
“Pursuant to this, therefore, we have introduced many reforms in the curriculum of the basic and secondary education sectors to emphasise technology and science.
“To give credence to this, our administration has set out to rejig teaching and learning in public schools through the employment of teachers with bias in technology and entrepreneurial education,” he said.
In the budget estimates, the Economic and social sectors are taking the lead, with N200, 132,170 000.00 bn and N141, 180,049,000.00 bn, respectively, representing 50.46% and 35.60%
Administrative and law and justice sectors are taking N50.9bn, representing 22.8%, and N4.1bn, representing 1.04% of the total budget.
Nwifuru expressed the hope that the budget estimates would guarantee industrialisation, economic growth, and an improved standard of living in the state.
“The task of governance is not an easy one, and the task of meeting people’s needs is even more challenging due to multiplicity of human wants.
“But we are determined to steadily pursue our commitment as outlined in the People’s Charter of Needs, the guiding compass of our administration to logical conclusion.
“We acknowledge that we are not yet where we ought to be, but we have made significant progress. We will not relent until we reach the shore.
“My administration therefore solicits understanding and cooperation of all Ebonyi people.
“Mr. Speaker and dear Distinguished members of this great Assembly, it is my earnest desire that this budget proposal be given speedy and favourable consideration for the achievement of its lofty plans for the State and the people
