By IFEOMA AKA/MAUREEN OJINAKA

Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State has presented 2025 budget of N971.84 billion to the state House of Assembly for consideration and approval.

Mbah presented the budget tagged, ?Exponential Growth and Inclusive Prosperity? on Tuesday at the Legislative complex in Enugu.

He said that his administration sought to lay a right foundation to enhance economy growth of the state.

Mbah said that the 2025 budget estimate was over N450 billion higher than 2024 budget of N521.5 billion, representing 86.4 per cent increase.

He pointed out that the budget was in line with his administration?s vision to grow the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the state from $4.4 billion to $30 billion, which he noted was achievable.

Giving the breakdown of the budget, the governor revealed that N133.1 billion of the budget would go into recurrent expenditures while N837.9 billion would be spent on capital expenditures.

On the sectorial budget, he said that N320.6 billion of the budget would go into education; N260 billion to Works and Infrastructure;N82 billion to Agriculture; N45 billion to Health while Sports sector would get N13 billion.

He said that the capital budget would be channeled to the completion of 260 smart schools, ultra-modern hospitals, first phase of New Enugu City, dualisation of Abakpa-Opi Nsukka road, and upgrade of Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.

According to Mbah, the four bus terminals at the Holy Ghost, Abakpa, Garriki and Nsukka would be commissioned on Dec. 22, while the state-owned airline, Enugu Air, would be launched in few weeks from now.

On the review on the 2024 budget, the governor disclosed that as of October, the current budget had achieved 88.6 per cent, which he said was a big achievement to his administration.

He added that the state generated N107bn internal revenue, which he maintained was expected to grow to over N500 billion and gave the assurance that no part of the state would be left out.

Receiving the budget, the Speaker of the House, Chief Uche Ugwu said that the House would start the process of passing the appropriation bill in record time.

Ugwu urged heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to come for their budget defence for more clarity on their budget estimates. (NAN)

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