BY VICTOR NWEGEDE
Ebonyi Governor, Chief David Nweze Umahi says his administration has projected 33 per cent for the recurrent expenditure and 67 per cent for the capital expenditure in the estimated 2022 budget.
He said: "The budget 2022 will be tagged Budget of Latter Rain.We have projected the recurrent expenditure to be about 33 per cent and capital to be about 67 per cent, which will be about 1 to 2, and if you understand the economic indices, the budget is for growth of the state."
The governor condemned the leakages of the revenues in the state, and said his administration would come up with more sophisticated strategics in 2022 to fight the crime.
"In 2022, we are going to pursue a lot to stop revenue leakages. We have a lot of multiple taxation in the state, but over 80 per cent of the taxation do not come to the state treasury, people connived with criminals, to set up revenue collections into their pockets and that has dwindled the revenues of the state.
"For a better development of the state, we are going to come up with more sophisticated strategics, to see how we are going to get more revenues into our coffers, for the benefit of our state and our children," he said.
He informed that the state has some landed property in Abia, Enugu, Enugu, Lagos and Abuja, and equally disclosed the state government's plan to make them more profitable to the people by adopting Public Private Partnership (PPP).
"I learnt we inherited the lands in our sojourney from Imo and Abia States and nothing is happening to it. We also inherited the one at Enugu, one is at our liasion office. I want to believe that the next administration will build the liasion office.
"The other two are still there and we need to think about them. We also have the one we inherited in Lagos, that's Maryland. We have another property in Lagos which is in Victoria Island, but presently, we collect about 20-million Naira rate - it is restructured hotel. It was leased out during Dr Sam Egwu's administration as the governor of the state, but we reviewed the rent and get up to 20million Naira now, instead of the N10million usually collected then.
"And the one in the central area in Abuja is also there. Incidentally, I investigated this land when I was deputy governor. It was put up for sale that time, but I think the building was not proper. For example, that of Lagos was up to 15million Naira and we need to sell the land outright. But I think as a person, subject to your views, and opinions, that we shall advertise it and get developers to develop it. By then, if they are making money, we will also be earning something for the sustenance of this state and the future of our children will be guaranteed. We want to pass the PPP law, to operate and transfer, but while they are operating, we will be enjoying with them," he added.
Umahi further said that his administration has earmarked 10million Naira for the development of the 65kilometre of roads across the 13 local government areas of the state, which was unanimously endorsed by the people during the event.
He said, both the road contractors and the consultants would be chosen by the people according to their local governments, and the road as well, stressing that the democratic process must be followed.
He promised to supply the supervisor, whom he said would be the youths and traditional rulers to take action when the contractors go contrarily.
"I learnt that a lot of roads were abandoned in the South East, that the contractors are also from South East by the Federal government. So, this time around, the stakeholders will take the decision," Umahi also noted.
He announced that the state has signed into law, a full autonomy to local government to control its fund, alongside the judiciary and legislative arms.
The govenor during the event, as well, assured of building the University of Aeronautical Engineering and University of ICT, Science and Technologies, which would be sited in Ezza and Izhi lands respectively, while enumerating more impactful policies, programmes and projects coming to the state.
