Abia State governor, Alex Otti has said the state’s 2025 budget of N750.28bn is not on the high side as is being speculated in some quarters.
Otti made the clarification during his monthly media briefing tagged “Governor Otti Speaks to Abians” for December at the Government House, the capital.
He said that looking at the size of the budget in absolute terms, it might look big, but when one considers the rate of inflation, the person will have a different opinion.
“The important thing” he said about the budget entitled ‘Sustaining the momentum’ is that every budget is an aspiration. It is an aspiration that is founded on logic.”
“Budgets entrusted become the budget realistic and at the end of the day you would have implemented it. It is all about planning.” Otti further said.
According to the governor, the figure represents about 30 per cent increase in the 2024 figures and indicated the scope of the administration progressive aspirations.
“We have taken into account major economic headwinds such as inflation and exchange rate instability-two complex subjects that have dealt very harsh blows to our fiscal plans and proposals.”
Presenting the budget on the floor of the state House of Assembly last Tuesday, pointed out that the capital expenditure is 82 per cent, while the recurrent is 18 per cent.
On the national minimum wage, he explained that he had implemented it since October, noting that what remains now is the consequential adjustment “and the promised 13th month.”
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