Dan Opara
The outgoing Governor of Imo State, Governor Rochas Okorocha, today, Dec.13th 2018, joyfully presented the sum of N276,818,071,812 billion as his last budget for the 2019 fiscal year to the Imo State House of Assembly members.
Gov.Rochas while making his presentation to the members State House of Assembly described the budget as “budget of consolidation and economic stability” which is targeted at meeting the yearnings and aspirations of Imo people.
He, therefore, said that the budget proposal is a special one as it falls within in the last year of the life of his Rescue Mission administration in the State.
The 2019 budget is, however, more than the 2018 budget by #85,896,607,522 which translates to 44.99%.
Chief Okorocha in his 2019 budget paper written, signed by him and presented to the Imo lawmakers said that his administration has previously paid compensation worth over #2.11b landowners at Maze, Irete, Orji, Avu and New Arugo as well as Imo Modern Market Extension Irete.
He said the compensation includes the traditional rites and compensatory plots, even as he disclosed that additional #233million has been earmarked for payment to other landowners for various land acquisitions in the state.
Governor Rochas furthermore hinted that his government is on the top gear of arrangement for the establishment of Industrial Park at Ohaji/Egbema as well as Industrial Estate at Ngor-Okpala LGA of Imo State, as he stated that all these projects will be concluded in 2019, according to him.
The Governor in his budget proposal for 2019 said it will focus on free education, infrastructural development, food security, efficient health care delivery, women and youth empowerment. Others include accelerated Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, as expected, enhanced Public-Private Sector Partnership, reduction in recurrent expenditure and creation of enabling an environment for establishment and sustainability of businesses as in the State.
In conclusion, the Imo State Governor, Okorocha, boasted that his leadership in the past 7 years has attracted rapid development in the state.
