Anambra Assembly Passes N410bn 2024 Appropriation Bill

In a significant legislative move, the Anambra State House of Assembly has approved the state’s 2024 Appropriation Bill, amounting to N410 billion. The bill, presented by Governor Chukwuma Soludo a month earlier, received unanimous endorsement during the plenary session held in Awka on Thursday.

The adoption of the bill’s report from the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation marked a crucial stage in the budgetary process. Mr. Ejike Okechukwu, Chairman of the committee, highlighted that the budget size proposed by the Governor was upheld, with careful allocation between capital and recurrent expenditures.

Okechukwu indicated that 77% of the budget, totaling N313,930,288,526, was allocated for capital projects, while 23%, amounting to N96,201,936,746, was dedicated to recurrent expenses. He noted that the budget underwent thorough scrutiny involving discussions with heads of various ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), ensuring alignment with respective needs while adhering to budgetary constraints.

“Following the comprehensive review, adjustments were made within the budget heads. We recommend the approval of N410,132,225,272 to serve the government of Anambra State for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, and for associated purposes,” stated Mr. Okechukwu.

The House Speaker, Dr. Somtochukwu Udeze, commended the committee for its meticulous examination of the budget. A voice vote led to the unanimous adoption of the report by the assembly members.

After the bill’s passage, Dr. Udeze directed the Acting Clerk, Mr. Okechukwu Nwobi, to forward a copy of the bill to Governor Soludo for his assent.

The Anambra State’s 2024 budget, titled ‘Changing Gears: The Transformation Agenda Begins,’ stands at N410 billion, marking a substantial increase of N150 billion from the previous year’s budget of N260 billion, indicating a 57.8% rise.

Additionally, during the plenary session, the Anambra State Energy Bill 2023 and the Bill for a Law to Ensure the safety of Factory Workers 2023 were introduced for the first reading.

The assembly adjourned its plenary session until January 16, marking a pivotal step in the state’s fiscal planning for the upcoming year. (NAN)