The Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, today at the state House of Assembly presented a budget proposal of N58,925,681,943.00 for the 2017 fiscal year.

The 2017 Budget is an 11 percent increase on the 2016 Budget, which stood at N52 billion.

Speaking on the topic, “Budget for inclusive Growth and Economic Recovery”, the Governor explained that the budget is geared towards driving the state out of the current recession in the country and also ensure that the people at the grassroots, who are the most affected, are well catered for.

In a press briefing by the Commissioner for Budget Planning, Hon. Mark Okoye, to elaborate on some of the policies of government for 2017 as contained in the budget, he explained that the idea behind the allocation of funds to areas affecting the poor is to ensure that most of the monies from the budget got to the people.

On road construction, which takes the greater share of the budget with over N24 billion, the commissioner noted that the state has resolved to employ the services of local construction companies in the implementation of its projects adding that most of the artisans that would engaged are peasants from the state.

Okoye said: “The money will go back to the people, and in that way, we will be cushioning the effect of the economic recession on our people.

“The benchmark of N305 to a dollar was used in the preparation of the budget. It is the most effective way of realising a higher level of implementation of the budget.

“Before the end of this year, I can tell you that Anambra would have implemented the 2016 budget to about 80 percent. You cannot find that in most state in the country.

That is why even though the official rate for the dollar is N315, we decided to work with N305.

“In that way, we will not be disappointed if anything happens further. In the 2017 budget proposal, you will find that everything budgeted for has something to contribute to the growth of the state.”

The commissioner further noted that all taxes earlier suspended by the governor to cushion the effect of the recession remain suspended, and that even though it will deal a blow on the internally generated revenue of the state, the state would source money from tax liabilities, being a backlog of taxes owed the state by multi-nationals.

Okoye also said that a special court will be set up by next year for trying multi-national companies owing the state backlog of taxes and also enforcing payment.

•Photo shows Governor Obiano.

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