2024 Budget: Enugu Govt Engages Journalists, Promises Prudent Management of Public Resources

Enugu State Government says the N521.5 billion (N521,561,386,000) budget for the 2024 fiscal year, tagged “Budget of Disruptive Economic Growth” is achievable. 

The State Government assured prudent management of public funds, plugging of revenue leakages in Internally Generated Revenue(IGR) through compulsory use of  the pay direct system in all Government transactions. 

Commissioner for Budget, Chris-Roberts Ozongwu, made this known to newsmen, during the 2024 budget  breakdown, held at the Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi Nigeria Union of Journalists(NUJ) Press Centre, Enugu on Friday.

He said the government would create an investor- friendly environment that would attract investors to the state.

Ozongwu said the budget was named “Budget of Distruptive Economic Growth”
because it is intended to generate and allocate resources that aimed to distrupt traditional economic norms through  technological advancements in conventional business models and innovation to support economic growth of Enugu state. 

According to him, the 2024 budget also reflects the ambition of the new administration to achieve Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of $30 billion  in eight years from the current $4.4 billion .

Ozongwu added that the Enugu state  2024 Budget policy thrust would serve as policy and financial tool that reflects the vision and mission of Governor Peter Mbah’s agenda or objectives ” It is geared towards achieving job creation, social services, infrastructure, and Development’ in important sector of the economy, such as provision of safe drinking water, health, education, works, housing ,security and environment sanitation respectively. .

“The 2024 Budget is aimed at delivering  quality people- focused governance by making Enugu the prefered destination for investment, business, tourism and living  

”To make Enugu one of the top 3 states in Nigeria in terms of Gross Domestic Product, and achieve a zero percent rate in the poverty headcount index, development’ agenda”, he said.

Presenting the breakdown, the Commissioner said “given the Governor’s Development agenda, priority will be given to agriculture and agro-allied Industrialization-  acquisition of 300,000 hectres of land for agriculture and more, . Energy and Mineral Resources Development’- establishment  of electricity regulatory commission and ministry  of energy and mineral  resources for stable electricity in Enugu state. 

Under Education and human capital development, he said the state Government would construct 260 Smart schools across the state.

On trade and industry development, he said there would be provision of enabling environent for ease of doing business.

On transport, there will be construction of 2 major terminals in Enugu city among others.

Construction of 1,250km roads across the state, development of tourist sites across the state, digitization of all state Ministries , Departments and Agencies ( MDAs), provision of Infrastructure, improved security situation in the state among others 

The recurrent expenditure for year 2024 budget is N107,227,266.00 ( 20.50 %), Capital expenditure N414,334, 120.00 (205 30 %) higher than that of 2023 totaling N521.561,386.00(132%).

A sum of over N10 billion was estimated for various projects in the office of the Governor. They included N200m for procurement of communication equipment for security personnel. N7. 2 billion for procurement of official and security vehicles for the state, N1.5 billion for upgrading and equipping of Enugu state security outfit, N2 billion for intervention programs among others .

Enugu state House of Assembly , over N900 million. Education 30%of the social budget estimate,  Transport, over N30 Billion,  Works and Infrastructure, over  N25 Billion, Culture and Tourism ,over N1 Billion, State Economic planning ,N6 Billion, Water resources,over N5 Billion.

Enugu state Broadcasting Service (ESBS) over N200million, Government printing and Stationary Dept( Government press N137.5 million,.

Enugu printing and publishing company,Daily Star, N6 4 million. Agriculture and Agro- industrialization more than N21Billion,  FADAMA, over N900million among others .