Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has presentated a N971 billion budget proposal for the 2025 fiscal year to the Enugu State House of Assembly. The proposed budget, titled “Budget of Exponential Growth and Inclusive Prosperity,” represents an 86.4% increase from the N521.5 billion budget of 2024.
The 2025 budget emphasizes capital development, with N837.9 billion earmarked for capital expenditure, accounting for 86% of the total proposal. Recurrent expenditure is allocated N133.1 billion, representing just 14% of the budget.
Education has once again taken center stage, receiving N320.6 billion, which accounts for 33% of the total budget and 78% of the social sector allocation. Governor Mbah reiterated his administration’s focus on education as a catalyst for transforming Enugu into a knowledge-driven economy and eradicating poverty. According to him, education serves as both the “sword” and “shield” in the fight against economic challenges.
In addition to education, the budget prioritizes healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture, and transport. The healthcare sector has been allocated N45.8 billion to improve services and facilities, while N213.1 billion is set aside for road construction and refurbishment as part of the governor’s vision to modernize the state’s infrastructure. The agricultural sector is expected to receive N82.3 billion to boost food production and agro-industrialization, and N41.1 billion has been proposed for the transport sector, which includes expanding Enugu Air with the acquisition of four new aircraft and the construction of an international cargo terminal.
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Governor Mbah also highlighted a remarkable increase in the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), which grew from N37.4 billion in 2023 to N144.7 billion as of September 2024, marking a 286.2% increase. He expressed confidence that IGR would surpass N200 billion by the end of 2024, aligning with his administration’s strategy to reduce reliance on federal allocations.
The governor noted that the 2025 budget is designed to lay a solid foundation for sustained economic growth, attract private investments, and elevate Enugu’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to rank among the top three in Nigeria. He stated that the budget would also focus on eradicating poverty and achieving inclusive prosperity for all citizens.
Receiving the budget proposal, the Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Uchenna Ugwu, commended Governor Mbah for his visionary leadership. He assured the governor that the House would expedite the passage of the budget to sustain the development strides initiated by the administration.
