BY SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
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Chairman of Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State, Dr Eric Odo, has presented 2025 budget of ₦5.4 billion to the Legislative Council of the area for approval.
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Odo made the budget presentation, christened: “Budget of Aggressive Economic Recovery and Good Governance”, on Monday at the Legislative Council chamber of the council’s secretariat in Ogbede.
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The chairman noted that ₦2.71 billion of the total budget would go into recurrent expenditure; while the remaining ₦2.76 billion would be used to finance capital expenditure.
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“This budget is a product of careful planning and consultations with stakeholders across all sectors in the council area.
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“Our primary goal is to ensure that the people of Igbo-Etiti benefit directly from the council’s activities and the resources at our disposal.
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“We aim to continue building on the progress we have made while taking bold steps towards new developmental projects,” Odo said.
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While highlighting the projects attached to the budget, the council boss emphasised that it was designed to accelerate the delivery of essential services to the people of Igbo-Etiti.
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According to him, the budget reflects his administration’s commitment to complete all ongoing construction and expansion of rural roads to ensure that all communities in the area are accessible.
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He reiterated his unwavering determination to ensure the completion of the 16.5km Umuoka–Nkporogwu Ukehe–Ngele Okwete–Ugwuogo Road as well as other critical roads within the council area.
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“The strategies for successful implementation of the 2025 budget included ensuring adequate resources allocations for the completion of ongoing projects.
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“The 2025 budget will ensure prudence, transparency, accountability and traceability in all local government businesses and zero tolerance for corruption.
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“We will eliminate wastage and other unjustifiable expenditures that have no direct link on improving the welfare of the people.
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“Above all, we intend to expand the revenue base of the Igbo-Etiti by upgrading ICT infrastructure to bring all the Internal Generated Revenue (lGR) into one platform,” he noted.
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On education, Odo revealed that his administration would provide exercise books, desks, school sandals, socks, pen, pencil and other writing materials to all public schools in the council.
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He pointed out the budget would go a long way in implementing measures to increase children enrollment in schools, noting: “Any parent whose child is caught hawking will be arrested and jailed.”
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He pledged that his administration would remain transparent and thorough in the implementation of the budget when passed.
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Receiving the budget proposal, the Leader of the Legislative Council, Mr Stephen Okwu, promised that the legislative council would give the budget an accelerated hearing and passage.
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The high point of the event was the laying of the budget before the lawmakers.
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