Enugu: Udenu LG boss presents ₦4.5bn budget proposal for 2025

The Chairman of Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State, Aka Eze Aka, has presented a ₦4.526 billion budget proposal for the 2025 fiscal year.

Presenting the budget entitled “Budget of Accelerated Growth and Phenomenal Progress,” on Monday before the Councilors at Council’s Legislative Chamber, Aka said it aimed to catalyze significant development across the area.

The chairman reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to delivering impactful projects and programmes while ensuring that no project was abandoned or left incomplete at the end of his tenure.

According to him, the council’s internally generated revenue (IGR) is projected at N150 million while the projected allocation from the federation account is N2.2 billion and Value-Added Tax (VAT) is estimated at N2.1 billion.

“The capital expenditure is N2. 3 billion, personnel costs; N1.9 billion and overhead costs stood at N250 million”.

He said the budget was structured to address challenges in critical areas including infrastructure, healthcare, education, rural electrification and economic development.

Aka said his administration was committed to addressing housing deficits through the construction of New City Development.

“As Obollo Afor, the commercial hub of Udenu Local Government, has become fully saturated, it is imperative to expand our infrastructure and create a new economic and residential hub.

“Inspired by the ongoing development of New Enugu city under Gov. Peter Mbah’s administration, we propose the establishment of a New City in Udenu, to be named Maryland City,” Aka said.

He disclosed that education and healthcare remained pivotal to his administration’s development goals, adding that the council had allocated substantial resources to improve the quality of education in schools.

The chairman also reiterated his administration’s commitment to prioritise rural electrification, targeted at some communities include Ndabru-Afube, Odoru, and parts of Amutenyi Obollo-Eke.

“The government plans to distribute 500Kva transformers and collaborate with relevant authorities to extend electricity lines, ensuring steady power supply to underserved areas”.

He acknowledged the financial challenges posed by dwindling revenues from the Federation Account and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

He however, expressed confidence in his administration’s ability to deliver on its promises through prudent financial management and transparency.

Responding, the Leader of the Legislative Chamber, Dr Nnamdi Odoh, commended the chairman and the management team for their thorough and responsible efforts in preparing a comprehensive budget.

He assured the chairman of the Council’s readiness to expedite the budget’s approval, pledging their commitment to the integral development of Udenu.

Odoh pledged, on behalf of his colleagues to support initiatives that would transform the lives of the people and improve the local government’s overall socio-economic outlook.