Imo Assembly hikes Uzodimma’s 2025 budget to N807b

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… Governor signs bill into law, pledges full implementation

Governor Hope Uzodimma has signed into law the Imo State 2025 Appropriation Bill hiked by the State’s Assembly to N807b from N756b, pledging full and faithful implementation of the budget.

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Signing the bill into law at the New Exco Chambers, Government House Owerri, Monday, Governor Uzodimma noted that what the lawmakers did by increasing the original figures he presented before them few days ago shows an alignment between the Executive and the legislature in providing essential services to the people.

The Governor who further expressed his satisfaction over the expeditious passage of the appropriation bill and tinkering with the original numbers, said that what had been done by the Assembly shows that the lawmakers have challenged the executive to commence work without delay on the 2025 budget.

The appropriation signed into law still maintains the Governor’s consistency in allocating huge chunk of the budget to capital expenditure in 2025 to the tone of Six Hundred and Ninety-Four Billion, Seven Hundred and Eighty-Six Million, Forty-One Thousand, Two Hundred and Twenty Naira (N694,786,041,220) or 86.09 per cent of the total sum.

For the recurrent expenditure, One Hundred and Twelve Billion, Three Hundred and Two Million Naira (N112,302,000,000) of 13.91 percent was approved.

In the now signed budget, the Ministry of Works and Infrastructural Development gets N297,509,312,778 or 42.8%, the Ministry of Transport, N101,010,000,000 or 14.5% and

the Ministry of Power and Electrification, N74,755,479,042 or 10.8%.

In the same vein, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security was allocated N50,020,000,000 or 7.2% of the budget,

the Ministry of Education, N49,460,000,000 or 7.1% while the Ministry of Health gets N31,933,234,000 or 4.65%.

Governor Uzodimma’s short remarks after signing the appropriation bill reads: “I have just signed into law the 2025 Imo State Appropriation Bill, which now has the force of law and serves as the financial operational manual for the state.

“While I initially proposed a budget of Seven Hundred and Fifty-Six Billion Naira for the year, the State House of Assembly, in its wisdom, adjusted it to N807 billion. It shows the alignment between the Executive and the Legislature in providing essential infrastructure and services to the people of the State.

“The total 2025 budget, as amended by the Assembly and signed into law, is Eight Hundred and Seven Billion, Eighty-Eight Million, Forty-One Thousand, Two Hundred and Twenty Naira (N807,088,041,220).

“Capital allocation: Six Hundred and Ninety-Four Billion, Seven Hundred and Eighty-Six Million, Forty-One Thousand, Two Hundred and Twenty Naira (N694,786,041,220) (86.09%)

“Recurrent allocation: One Hundred and Twelve Billion, Three Hundred and Two Million Naira (N112,302,000,000) (13.91%)

“I commend the Speaker and members of the House of Assembly for the expeditious passage of the Appropriation Bill and for increasing the initial budget estimate. This patriotic gesture challenges the executive to commence work immediately.

“As outlined in my recent budget speech, this Budget of Expanded Economic Opportunities is designed to drive the economic transformation of our state through improved infrastructure and industrialization. Beyond focusing on making our economy one of the fastest-growing in the region, we aim to position the state as a prime destination for genuine investors.

“The following allocations to core ministries underscore my resolve to strengthen economic growth in 2025:

1) Ministry of Works and Infrastructural Development: N297,509,312,778 (42.8%)

2) Ministry of Transport: N101,010,000,000 (14.5%)

3) Ministry of Power and Electrification: N74,755,479,042 (10.8%)

4) Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security: N50,020,000,000 (7.2%)

5) Ministry of Education: N49,460,000,000 (7.1%)

6) Ministry of Health: N31,933,234,000 (4.65%)

“My dear people of Imo State, I pledge to fully and faithfully implement this budget to achieve its goals. We will create expanded economic opportunities through investment and job creation. Ndi Imo shall be the beneficiaries.

“I urge everyone and all stakeholders to support this administration in our endeavor to set Imo State on a path of sustainable development.

“Thank you, and God bless you.’

Earlier in his speech ahead of the signing, the Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Chike Olemgbe explained that the appropriation bill presented to them was carefully crafted, a situation that made their job easy and seamless.

He noted that the proposal shows that the Governor is determined to give Imo people “Expanded Economic Opportunities” as contained in the budget.

Informing the Governor why members of the State House of Assembly were at the Exco Chambers, the Clerk and the Legislative Head of Imo State House of Assembly, Barr. (Mrs.) Chinelo Emeghara said it was in fulfillment of the constitutional requirements of (Section 100 Sub-section 1, 2 and 3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

She emphasised: “This final stage of signing the appropriation bill into law is derived from the presentation of the bill before the House by the Governor as provided in Section 121 Sub-section 1 of the same 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).”

Present at the ceremony were the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Lady Chinyere Ekomaru, the Senators representing Imo North and Imo West, Patrick Ndubueze and Osita Izunaso respectively.

Others include Federal House Member for Okigwe North, Rt. Hon. Princess Miriam Onuoha, the Secretary to State Government, Chief Cosmas Iwu, Chief of Staff, Barr. Nnamdi Anyaehie and Members of the State Expanded Exco.

The Speaker was accompanied by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Amara Iwuanyanwu, the Majority Leader, Rt. Hon. Kanayo Onyemaechi, the House Chairman on Budget and Appropriation and other Members of the House of Assembly.

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