Isi-Uzo Council Chairman, Hon. Obeagu, Presents N5.5bn 2025 Budget Proposal to Legislative Council

DDM News

The Council Chairman of Isi-Uzo in Enugu State, Hon. Obiora Obeagu, has presented a budget proposal of N5.5 billion for the 2025 fiscal year to the Legislative Council of the Local Government Area (LGA).

The proposal, titled the “Budget of Economic Growth and Transformation,” marks a significant increase from the N4.153 billion allocated for the 2024 fiscal year.

This new budget aligns with Governor Peter Mbah’s ambitious goal of boosting the state’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion, primarily through enhanced private sector investment and increased productivity in rural areas.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered the information directly from the Council’s budget presentation session at the Council headquarters in Ikem, where key stakeholders and community leaders were present.

The 2025 budget aims to support the Council’s 2025-2026 Rolling Plan.

This plan focuses on key areas such as food production for food security, job creation, the rehabilitation and equipping of primary healthcare facilities, promotion of tourism and market initiatives, improving transportation systems through the rehabilitation and construction of rural roads, and enhancing the quality of education and academic grants.

Hon. Obeagu emphasized that the budget would be primarily funded by an anticipated increase in the Council’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

Initiatives such as the development of markets and real estate projects, along with efforts to address gaps in revenue collection, are expected to play a pivotal role in achieving this increase.

While presenting the budget at the Council headquarters in Ikem, Obeagu described it as a strategic plan designed to unlock the economic potential of Isi-Uzo.

He emphasized that the budget would help transition the LGA from its current rural status to a semi-urban one.

This, in turn, would contribute to the growth of the region.

He provided a detailed breakdown of the budget, stating that N2,498,390,040 was allocated for recurrent expenditure.

This was further divided into Personnel Costs/Emoluments of N2,248,390,040 and Overhead Costs of N250,000,000. Capital expenditure was set at N3,059,800,000.

Key investments for the capital budget include N860 million allocated to roads and bridges.

This marks a significant increase from the previous year and demonstrates the local government’s commitment to improving transportation infrastructure.

These projects are essential for the movement of goods and services, especially in rural communities.

Obeagu further elaborated that these projects would improve safe and efficient transportation in Isi-Uzo, ultimately fostering economic growth.

Other important capital allocations include N285 million for Gender, Water, and Housing initiatives, N226 million for the Health sector, N200 million for Power (Electrification), and N181 million for Agriculture.

This allocation represents a notable increase from the previous budget and aims to address critical issues such as energy access, healthcare improvement, and boosting the local agricultural economy.

Additionally, N180 million has been allocated to the Information, Communication, and Technology (ICT) sector, and N163.8 million to the Education sector.

The Smart Green Schools initiative, launched under Governor Peter Mbah’s administration, continues to reduce the financial burden on local councils.

Over N1 billion has been invested in each of the 260 wards across the state.

This initiative aims to improve the education system and increase access to quality learning for students in Isi-Uzo.

The budget also allocates N40 million to the Poverty Alleviation and Employment Generation sector.

Additional provisions are made for Youth and Sports, Environmental Improvement, and Social Re-orientation programs.

These initiatives aim to foster an inclusive, prosperous society with a focus on economic empowerment and community well-being.

Hon. Obeagu expressed confidence that the budget could overcome the challenges posed by inflation and the depreciation of the naira.

He acknowledged the impact of the removal of oil subsidies and the resulting economic pressures.

Despite these challenges, he assured that the leadership is committed to innovation and making progress in line with the governor’s vision for the state.

He emphasized that the 2025 budget is a bold and achievable step towards sustainable growth and transformation in Isi-Uzo.

The leadership’s resolve to improve the lives of the local population aligns with Governor Mbah’s goal of growing Enugu State’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion.

The Leader of the Isi-Uzo Legislative Council, Hon. Irenus Nnaji, praised the Chairman’s innovative and accountable leadership.

He committed to ensuring the swift passage of the budget and supporting its implementation.

He emphasized that the Legislative Council would work closely with the executive to ensure that the development of Isi-Uzo is achieved. However, he also made it clear that any deviation from the established trajectory would be addressed by the Council.

Following the budget presentation, HRH Igwe Okey Ogbodo, Chairman of the Isi-Uzo Traditional Rulers Council, expressed satisfaction with the focus on road infrastructure, agriculture, and overall development in the budget.

As an engineer, Igwe Ogbodo praised the emphasis on roads and bridges, noting that these infrastructural investments would complement Governor Mbah’s efforts to improve the lives of rural communities in the state.

The 2025 budget proposal for Isi-Uzo represents a well-thought-out plan for driving economic growth and transformation.

With substantial allocations for infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, education, and economic empowerment, the budget sets the stage for Isi-Uzo’s transition into a more prosperous and semi-urban community.

The strong support from both the Legislative Council and Traditional Rulers Council, coupled with the leadership’s commitment to overcoming economic challenges, ensures that the budget will serve as a catalyst for positive change and development in the region.

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook