Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has signed into law a budget of Seven Hundred and Fifty Billion, Two Hundred and Eighty-Two Million, Two Hundred Thousand Naira (750,282, 200,000₦750,282,200,000 for the 2025 fiscal year.
Speaking while assenting to the bill passed by the Abia State House of Assembly, Governor Otti commended the lawmakers for their diligence in scrutinizing and passing the appropriation bill promptly.
He described the budget as a tool that would empower his administration to deliver on its promises to the people of Abia State as well as drive infrastructural development and sustain economic growth.
“I want to thank specially, the House members and the leadership of the House for doing such a thorough job in record time. I want to commend you for being thorough. That’s actually what our government is about.
“We pride ourselves as a serious-minded government, so anything we present, we are ready for scrutiny, and I want to thank you for a great job you did in scrutinizing the budget, disagreeing in a few areas, and also being flexible enough to accept when reasonable responses are given”, Otti stated.
The Governor noted that the 2025 budget, tagged the “Budget of Sustained Momentum,” marks a deliberate effort to continue the developmental strides initiated by his administration in its first year.
“When we say sustained momentum, we know that we have taken off and the challenge is to continue because the easiest thing to do is to accelerate and de-accelerate.
“We can assure you that this government has its eyes on the ball and will continue to do those things we promised our people that will take this State out of poverty, that will take this State out as one of the dirtiest States like it was in 2023″, he added.
The Governor while highlighting his administration’s focus on infrastructure, revealed that 82% of the budget is allocated to capital expenditure, leaving 18% for recurrent expenses.
He noted that the allocation is a demonstration of his government’s priority to invest in projects that will outlast his administration and transform the state, despite the challenges of higher wages occasioned by the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage and regular payment of pensions.
“Our push for infrastructural development is demonstrated in this budget because when you have capital expenditure over 80 percent, it speaks to what you want to do with infrastructure, things that would out-last all of us”, he stated.
Governor Otti also disclosed that ongoing projects initiated in 2023 including Port Harcourt Road,Aba Umuahia-Uzuakoli-Abiriba-Ohafia Road, Ohafia-Arochukwu Road to Ini boundary, Okobo-Abam Road, Omenuko Bridge, Nunya Road, construction and rehabilitation of hospitals, schools, and other critical infrastructure would be completed in 2025.
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