Weak budget hampers Abia's development — Emenike
All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate Chief Ikechi Emenike has identified fiscal weakness as the main impediment to economic growth and state development
He expressed his views on Thursday, when he addressed a forum of non-partisan stakeholders in Ututu, Arochukwu Local Government, following his consultations and mobilization of like minds for a collective will to change Abia's narrative.
The development economist noted that successive state administrations have run Abia on low budgets of less than 200 billion naira, which he says is insufficient to lift the state out of underdevelopment .
“Any budget below 200 billion naira cannot develop Abia,” he insisted, adding that he would find creative ways to improve the state budget to be able to meet development demands of the state to enviable levels.
Over the past three years, the state administration has produced less than 200 billion naira in its final policies with 137.419 billion naira for 2020, 131.815 billion naira in 2021 while 157.282 billion naira was budgeted for fiscal year 2022.
Although the 2022 budget saw a 10.81% increase over the 2021 fiscal policy, it fell short.
Emenike, who is “leading a mass movement to save and develop Abia,” promised to put in place “building blocks of development” that would put the state on a path to growth.
The hopeful APC candidate further observed that Abia's budgets generally fail to “reflect the needs of those who are meant to be the beneficiaries” of government fiscal policies.
"Abia's budget should have the face of every Abian," he said, pointing out that "citizens see themselves in the budget of countries where good governance is practiced".
Decrying the hardship of workers and retirees in Abia, due to arrears in wages, pensions and gratuities, Emenike noted that the government would not have found itself in such a mess if the budgets were truly focused on people.
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He promised to find a way to tackle pension arrears by setting up a committee of retirees on a rotational basis to manage pension payments and clear arrears.
Emenike, who has traveled extensively and done business with international financial institutions such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, African Development Bank and other development agencies, is committed to leveraging of his experience and international networks to drive economic growth in Abia and build "a first world state in a third world country".
“There will be economic activities in every local government in Abia,” Emenike said.
He urged stakeholders to join the revolution to liberate Abia from bad stewards so that the 'State of God' can start experiencing good things from 2023.
“You are a stakeholder in Abia and you need to be concerned about the poor state of the state. Say no to bad governance; let everyone rise to be counted in our rescue mission,” he said.
All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate Chief Ikechi Emenike has identified fiscal weakness as the main impediment to economic growth and state development
He expressed his views on Thursday, when he addressed a forum of non-partisan stakeholders in Ututu, Arochukwu Local Government, following his consultations and mobilization of like minds for a collective will to change Abia's narrative.
The development economist noted that successive state administrations have run Abia on low budgets of less than 200 billion naira, which he says is insufficient to lift the state out of underdevelopment .
“Any budget below 200 billion naira cannot develop Abia,” he insisted, adding that he would find creative ways to improve the state budget to be able to meet development demands of the state to enviable levels.
Over the past three years, the state administration has produced less than 200 billion naira in its final policies with 137.419 billion naira for 2020, 131.815 billion naira in 2021 while 157.282 billion naira was budgeted for fiscal year 2022.
Although the 2022 budget saw a 10.81% increase over the 2021 fiscal policy, it fell short.
Emenike, who is “leading a mass movement to save and develop Abia,” promised to put in place “building blocks of development” that would put the state on a path to growth.
The hopeful APC candidate further observed that Abia's budgets generally fail to “reflect the needs of those who are meant to be the beneficiaries” of government fiscal policies.
"Abia's budget should have the face of every Abian," he said, pointing out that "citizens see themselves in the budget of countries where good governance is practiced".
Decrying the hardship of workers and retirees in Abia, due to arrears in wages, pensions and gratuities, Emenike noted that the government would not have found itself in such a mess if the budgets were truly focused on people.
ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
He promised to find a way to tackle pension arrears by setting up a committee of retirees on a rotational basis to manage pension payments and clear arrears.
Emenike, who has traveled extensively and done business with international financial institutions such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, African Development Bank and other development agencies, is committed to leveraging of his experience and international networks to drive economic growth in Abia and build "a first world state in a third world country".
“There will be economic activities in every local government in Abia,” Emenike said.
He urged stakeholders to join the revolution to liberate Abia from bad stewards so that the 'State of God' can start experiencing good things from 2023.
“You are a stakeholder in Abia and you need to be concerned about the poor state of the state. Say no to bad governance; let everyone rise to be counted in our rescue mission,” he said.
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