Anambra Assembly Passes N607bn 2025 Budget with Focus on Implementation, Prudence

The Anambra State House of Assembly has approved the 2025 budget of N607 billion presented by Governor Chukwuma Soludo, following a motion by Ikenna Ofodeme, the majority leader of the House representing Ekwusigo State Constituency.

Speaker Somto Udeze praised the synergy between the legislative and executive arms, noting that the outgoing budget had seen an impressive 80% implementation, with hopes for continued success in 2025. He urged citizens to support the administration and pay their taxes.

Chairman House Committee on Information, Ejike Okechukwu, stated that the budget was passed as presented, with realignments made within ministries for more effective fund utilisation.

He said that the budget projected and estimated recurrent N139.5 billion, representing 23 per cent, while N407.5 billion, representing 77 per cent, would be for capital expenditure.

“The budget size did not have any change from what the governor presented but there were internal changes; some codes were changed to enable the government to access funds lying there to meet urgent needs. Some institutions such as the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University and Nwafor Orizu College of Education had more funds allocated to their recurrent expenditures and subvention to enable them to run them more effectively,” Okechukwu said.

Additionally, Chairman of the Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Noble Igwe, representing Ogbaru one State Constituency, commended prudence in managing public funds, highlighting an increase in funding for the Ministry of Industry to support the state’s industrialization agenda.

Industrialisation agenda

He said a remarkable change in the budget was the increase of the outlay for the Ministry of Industry from N10 million to about N547 million to support the industrialisation agenda of the government.

Igwe asserted that the 2025 budget aims to achieve over 80% implementation, funded based on revenue availability and government priorities, with a focus on key sectors such as health, education, and infrastructure.

Lateefah Ibrahim