The Anambra State estimated budget for 2023 was presented to the House of Assembly by Governor Chukwuma Soludo, and less than a month later, the lawmakers approved the N259.9 billion budget.
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Following the adoption of the report of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriations in plenary on Tuesday, the bill was approved.
The capital expenditure was increased from the initial N164.2 billion to N164.4 billion based on the needs of the ministries, departments, and agencies, representing 63.2 percent of the budget, according to Mr. Nonso Okafor, the committee’s deputy chairman during the passage.
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According to Okafor, the recurring expenses totaled N95.4 billion, or 36.8%.
“As part of the task the committee was given by this house, we organized and invited MDAs for in-depth analysis of the 2023 Budget and bilateral discussions.
“We advise that the budget size be kept, with only minor adjustments made in accordance with the requirements of some ministries, departments, and agencies.
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For the year ending December 31, 2023, he requested “that the sum of N259,938,121,905 be approved for the service of the Anambra State government, and for related purposes.”
Uchenna Okafor, the Speaker of the House, presided over a voice vote to approve the report while praising the committee for its thorough examination of the budget.
Following a voice vote, the house approved the measure, and the speaker instructed the clerk, Mrs. Esther Anaetoh, to send a copy of the legislation to Governor Soludo for his approval.
“I applaud all the standing committees for completing their tasks in accordance with their mandates. We acknowledged the role that the state’s budget plays in promoting and accelerating good governance. We urge residents to continue to support Gov. Soludo’s administration,” he said.
The Speaker also announced that the House will hold a valedictory session on Dec. 8, for the Late Dr Nnamdi Okafor, Majority Leader of the House, who died on August 24 in South Africa.