Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has presented before the State House Assembly, the 2025 budget estimate of Seven hundred and fifty billion, two hundred and eighty two million, two hundred thousand naira with the education and Health sectors gulping the highest amount representing thirty five percent of the total budget outlay.
Speaking while presenting the budget Christened; “Budget of Sustaining Momentum” at the floor of the House, Governor Otti said the 2025 budget represents about thirty percent increase in the 2024 budget indicating the scope of the progressive aspirations of his administration.
Governor Otti who said that a total sum of six hundred and eleven billion representing 82% of the entire budget outlay will be channeled into capital projects to continue to drive the long-term socio-economic transformation of the state, noted that one hundred and thirty eight billion Naira representing 18% of the total budget will be channeled into recurrent expenditures to take care of personnel cost, social benefits, overhead costs and debt servicing.
The Governor said the sum of thirteen billion Naira has been earmarked in the 2025 budget for the setting up of agro-industrial processing zones in Bende, Ukwa and Umunneochi Local Government Areas covering the 3 senatorial zones of the State to drive important economic outcomes such as job creation, wealth generation and foreign currency denominated receipt.
He noted that the sum of fifty five billion Naira have been budgeted to take care of various ongoing and new road projects including bridges cutting across the 17 Local Government Areas of the state, while additional budgetary provision have been made for the construction of 170 kilometers of rural roads across the state, targeting 10kms of road per LGA.
Governor Otti said provision have also been made to reconstruct some roads within Umuahia the state capital including Umueze-Agwu -Mbom,Nkata-Amaeke,Ahiaeke-Okwuta-Bende,Agbo-Umueze,Umueze-Mbom,Umuafai-Lodu-Ahiaeke, Amuzukwu-Mbom among other roads.
The State Chief Executive also announced that the 2025 budget proposal has provision for 4billion naira outlay which will be channeled into the revamping and reticulation of 47kms pipeline for the Umuahia regional water scheme.
He said that the government has within the period under review saw to the expansion and restoration of public Infrastructure, prompt and regular payment of salaries and pensions, security of lives and property, improved environmental status of major urban centres and responsiveness to matters of public interest.
Responding, the Speaker, Abia House of Assembly, Chief Emmanuel Emeruwa, while noting that Governor Alex Otti has within the year under review, performed exceptionally, lauded him for appropriating 82% of the total budget to Capital expenditure.
He promised that the House will meticulously consider the document as well as give it accelerated passage for the success of the 2025 fiscal year.
Members of the state House of Assembly, members of the state Executive Council including the Secretary to Abia State Government, Prof Kenneth Kalu, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, former legislators and other interest groups in the Abia polity witnessed the budget presentation.
