The Enugu State Government through the Ministry of Budget and Planning held a one day Citizens’ Engagement on 2025 Budget and Dissemination of 2023 Citizens Accountability Report on 19th day of November, 2024 at Nike Lake Resort Enugu.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The program started with the arrival and registration of participants at about 8:50am.
The Executive Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency Dr. Peter Ndubisi Mba ably represented by the Hon. Commissioner of Budget and Planning, Barr. Chris-Roberts Ozongwu who equally chaired the event.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Budget and Planning Mrs. Clara Nwakaego Eze reiterated the reason for the gathering while specifying how happy people are about the good works of the Governor in the state. In her words, “we are here to tell the government what we want and encourage the government to do more”.
Also present at the event were Members of the State Council of Traditional Rulers led by, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Enugu Chapter, Umu Ada Igbo Group, Civil Society Organizations
President- General of Town Unions, Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD),
Nigeria Labour Congress
Trade Union Congress and
Youth Leaders from different Wards.
Other key officials at the event include
Managing Director ESIDA Dr. Sam Ogbu-Nwobodo , Executive Secretary Economic Planning Honourable Nnanyelugo Dan Onyishi, Deputy Director PRS Ministry of Work Oguegbe Alex.
The Opening prayer was led by Very Rev Father Benjamin Eze at about 1:28pm while the breaking of Kolanut ceremony was officiated by HRH Igwe Okolo of Amoji Nike who asked God to protect the Governor and give him long life and intellectual ability to carry on with his good works in Enugu State.
The event was declared open by the Executive Governor ably represented by the Hon. Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Barr.Chris – Roberts Ozongwu.
In his welcome address,the Hon. Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Barr.Chris – Roberts Ozongwu commended the Governor for his effortless and transparent leadership and his offer of commitment to good judgement and service delivery to Ndi Enugu.
He said that the forum is always to ensure participatory budget process and to gather the needs and priorities of different communities so that resources could be allocated accordingly, which in turn will enhance the greater public access to information about state government activities, facilities and ensure that all voices can be heard through this fair approach.
According to him, the government of Enugu State led by his Excellency Dr. Peter Mba is constantly encouraging the citizens participation in decisions and implementation of government policies.
The Hon.Commissioner pointed out that everyone one in Enugu sees the projects being implemented in the State by the Governor who has stayed in the office for only 1 year and 6 months and has turned Enugu State into something beautiful and also promised the citizens that more is coming.
In his words, “This exercise, citizens participation is a mechanism of guiding and has been characterized as necessary to ensure a good relationship between the government and the general public; quality service and quality implementation.”
Good Will Messages
The Very Rev Father Benjamin Eze who represented the Faith-Based Organizations in delivering his goodwill message recognized the efforts of his Excellency Barr. Peter Ndubisi Mba who is filled with the capacity to do good and allowing citizens to be part of government by utilizing the options of common men.
He extended gratitude to his Excellency for being himself and doing what he knows how to do best while also wishing that God will continue to use him to direct the affairs of the State.
“I am happy that we are all here to discuss about the State’s budget to make input and I appreciate His Excellency Barr. Peter Mba on his various talk and do projects in the State”, expressed The Chairman Enugu State Traditional Rulers; HRH Igwe Emmanuel Ugwu while delivering his good will message. The traditional father added that the members of the traditional council are all proud that the Governor is fulfilling the promises he made with actions resulting in projects in education, health, transport sectors and overall in infrastructural developments in the state.
Speaking also was the Executive Director Civil Society Organizations, Dr. Cosmas Ohaka who added that participants have gathered to listen to the Hon. Commissioner and the Ministry and also make contributions in 2025 budget of Enugu State.
On behalf of the women, Umuada Igbo Group, Mrs Ekedigwe Ndidiamaka Juliet expressed appreciation to the Governor on his good works in the State. She stated that she is so happy to see him start his projects from where his predecessors stopped. Speaking further, she expressed hope that at the end of this tenure Enugu State will be a tourist haven.
The Chairman of the Trade Union Congress, Comrade Ben Asogwa also keyed in to the good will messages saying “Our Governor is doing well. We take time to praise people that are doing well so as to sustain more energy and know they are getting it right. Our Excellency the Governor hit the ground running immediately he came into office. The level of project he has on ground is still a surprise to so many people and we believe with this budget of 2025, it will ensure that there would not be any abandoned project because he has rescued projects that were abandoned for years in Enugu. As labour leaders we take time to say well-done to whoever that is doing well. We believe seriously in this government and hoping that this budget will move us forward and from our contributions in this program, the Governor will know what the citizens want for a better tomorrow as we hope for 2025 to be better than this year”.
His Nigera Labour Congress counterpart, Barr. Fabian Nwigbo in his own speech appreciated the workaholic Governor calling him a promise keeping governor with a difference. He reiterated that His Excellency approved a minimum wage of N80,000 for civil servants in the state exceeding the national minimum wage of N70, 000. According to him, this speaks a lot about his good intentions in Enugu State and the workers are happy with his performance. He equally expressed happiness over the invitation happy to make contributions in the preparation of the year 2025 budget for his Excellency to know what the people really want and also appreciated the Ministry of Budget and Planning for organizing the engagement session.
Chairman Youth Leader PDP Enugu West, Ejike Ilo Kasie started by expressing gratitude following the inclusion of the Youth contributions on last year in the 2024 budget. He thanked the Hon. Commissioner for Budget and Planning showing that the gathering is not a joke. He added that the whole developmental project going in the state is for the youth, women and children adding that all the projects going on in our various autonomous communities and our various wards.
The Chairman Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities, Enugu State Chapter, Comrade Onyebuchi Mba spoke on behalf of the association, thanking the Governor His Excellency Dr Peter Mba because he has changed a lot in the disability community. According to him, in education sector, His Excellency has reactivated the State inclusive education policy with the committee set up currently to look into the policy and develop it in such a way that it will be inclusive with the recommendations and most importantly those with disabilities are officially written to, invited and requested to nominate who represents them in that committee.
Chairman of Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities giving out his goodwill message at the event
He announced that His Excellency increased the monthly subvention of Special Education Center in Oji River from #750,000 to #1.5 million currently and also ordered materials like bed and some other things he had approved to ensure that the school hostels have the needed materials for persons living with disabilities.
President General of Town Unions, said that a lot of projects are going on in the rural areas and that they are very grateful and appreciated His Excellency Dr Peter Mba for all his good works.
2023 Budget Performance
Presenting the 2023 budget performance..
The Implementation of the 2023 Revised budget was analyzed by the Chairman, Civil Society Organization, Barr. Cromwell Chibuzor. According to him, the 2023 budget originally was #166 billion for the 2023 fiscal year, but when Governor Mba came on board, the inflation gave rise to a supplementary budget of 2023 about #58 billion, making it a total of #224.7 billion. The revenue outcome of the State showed a budget size of #172.7 billion and an actual #220.6 billion. The State’s expenditure profile showed #224.7 billion and actual #179.7 billion, with a performance rate of 80% for all standards.
2024 Budget Performance
Hon. Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Barr. Chris-Roberts Ozongwu, presented the 2024 budget performance report. According to him, the State has over 1,000 ongoing projects, with a capital budget of #414 billion and a current expenditure of #107 billion. The Commissioner highlighted some of the notable achievements of the 2024 budget, including the approval of #25,000 incentive to all civil servants to cushion the effect of fuel price increase and a follow-up approval of #80,000 new minimum wage with effect from October 2024.
Other notable achievements include the construction of integrated Model Smart Schools in 260 wards across 17 LGAs, construction of International Conference Center Enugu, construction of International Hospital, Rangers Avenue, Enugu, revitalization of Hotel Presidential, Enugu, and construction of Owo-Ubahu-Ama Nkanu-Neke Ikem Road, among others. The Commissioner emphasized that these achievements demonstrate the government’s commitment to transforming the state and improving the lives of its citizens.
Ease of Doing Business Reforms in the State
The Managing Director Enugu State Investment Development Authority, Dr. Sam Ogbu-Nwobodo, in his speech, referred to Enugu State as the right economic hub in Nigeria that is attracting both local and foreign investment due to its strategic reforms aimed at improving the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) in the State. According to him, the State government led by His Excellency Dr. Peter Ndubisi Mba, with his progressive administration, is committed to creating an enabling environment to support entrepreneurs through investment. He said that Enugu State’s economic indicators are promising, with remarkable growth in small and medium scale enterprises and increased capital investment from both local and international investors, involving investors’ confidence in the management of Enugu State economy by the present administration.
Dr. Ogbu-Nwobodo further stated that it was through government efforts that diverse business opportunities were established. He also said that when the Governor came into office, he signed the Executive Order N0 3, which gave rise to economic growth through investment based on Ease of Doing Business, transparency, creditability, and accountability. Again, he said that different MDAs have been mandated, especially the business enabling MDAs, to create and publish their Service Level Agreement so as to avoid hidden charges or unclear regulatory processes.
In his words, “As a result, today, I am bold to stand before you to reaffirm this administrative commitment to fostering a business-friendly environment where every entrepreneur, both local and foreign, can thrive with confidence and creditability.” He further said that he has heard about the numerous projects and he is on the side of receiving moribund industries and State enterprises. And therefore, he believed that the State is missing one of the key legacies of its founding fathers, which is the Niger Gas Plant in Emene, and he went further to say, in assurance, that the Plant will become operational by the end of January 2025.
According to him, a thriving business environment is a foundation for creating jobs, generating wealth, and improving the general quality of life of the people. Many persons from different organizations made input in the budgetary processes and pleaded to have an increased budget allocation in different sectors like Water Resources, construction of roads, Electricity, Education, Health Care, etc.
In closing remarks, Igwe Ogadagidi appreciated everyone that made it to the engagement. In his words “we the Royal Fathers are very happy for finding time to make positive input in our State and I PRAY that God will bless everyone abundantly”.
He commended everyone from different organizations and pleaded with the Commissioner to remember them for proper engagement in 2025 budget. He therefore urged all to be in peace and unity so as to continue moving forward. The Very Rev. Father Benjamin Eze said the closing prayer at about 3:13 pm.
