From John I. Mgbe, Owerri
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Imo State Governor,Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has presented the 2013 budget proposal of N195,743,,684,031billion to the State House of Assembly. The budget speech was delivered by Governor Okorocha in the Legislative Chamber of Imo Legislature on Monday,3rd November,2012.It was a well attended event in which every available space in the complex was overflowing with humanity from all walks of life who thronged the venue to witness the historic event.Out of the total budget of N195.7billion budget estimate,N63,560,209,564 or 32.7% is allocated to recurrent expenditure while N132,183,474,467 or 67.53% is allocated to Capital Expenditure
The budget details revealed that revenue projection from recurrent sources for 2013 is N93,889,888,530 and capital receipts is N101,853,795,501.The recurrent revenue consists of funds from federation allocatrions,Internally Generally Revenue, Value Added Tax ,Excess Crude Fund,,13% Derivation Fund, Ecological Fund. NDDC Refund and interest on bond transfer.Capital Receipts consists of receipts from internal loans, Development Partners’ intervention, Grants, Direct funding (FG) and miscallaneous.
The Economic Sector: The total allocation to the Economic sector is
N59, 171,065,6OO representing 47.29 per cent of the total budget. The economic sector is made up of Agriculture, Petroleum and environment ,Housing, Lands,commerce and industry, Works, Transport ,Public Utilities and Rural Development.
Highlights of the Budget:-Economic Sector:
-The Imo State statistical Agency with appropriate Information Technology (ICT) equipment and state of the art office accommodation will be completed;
-Government will embark on the construction of 1000 housing units of various categories for Imo citizens;
– Government will build an ultra modern market along Onitsha Road;
-Government will build a precast concrete factory in the state;
-Centres will be created to harness creativity at Orlu and Okigwe for Artisans;
-The Administration will strive to set up an Airline in partnership with the private sector;
-Government will construct eight ultra modern motor parks at the headquarters of the three senatorial zones of the state
-A drivers’ training school will be established;
–The Oguta Pontoon will be rehabilitated for effective use
WORKS: Procurement of four new Fire Fighting Engines for the three senatorial zones and Government House;
-Installation of micro water schemes to ensure regular supply of water in the three zones;
-Establishment of Fire Service Training School I Owerri;
-Establishment of new Fire Service Station at New Owerri;
Public Utilities:
* Government will rehabilitate the 16 old water schemes in the State and provide ten (10) additional ones;
*Construction of six(6) semi urban water schemes;
*Installation of traffic signal light at 18 critical road junctions in Owerri;
-*Government will extend electricity and drill 27 bore holes for the 27 new General Hospitals in the State
The Social Services Sector:
*Government will implement its free and qualitative education programme at primary, secondary and Tertiary levels;
*Provision of technical equipment for the full accreditation of the four technical colleges in the state;
*Completion of ongoing construction and renovation of projects in primary and secondary schools in the state.
*After reviewing the programmes of the Co-operative College,Ehime Mbano and the Technological Skills Acquisition Institute,Orlu(TESAI),Government has decided to convert these institutions into campuses of the Imo Polytechnic ,Umuagwo.
Within the year,2012,the Administration increased monthly subvention to Imo State University from N57million to N252million, an increase of over200%.
Culture and Tourism:
*Government will embark on full development and commissioning of our notable tourist sites such as Blue Lake of Treasure,Abadaba Lake, and the acqisition of monuments to leverage the state’s Internally Generated Revenue
*Ozuruimo Cultural Festival will be given a boost;
*The Ahiajoku Lecture festival will be taken beyond the confines of our national boundaries.
Health SECTOR:
*The completion and equipping of the ultra modern Diagnostic and Dialysis Centre and the 27 new General Hospitals under construction;
*Government will give a boost to the Health at Your Doorstep Initiative;
*Build cold store for the storage of vaccines;
*Government will intensify efforts towards developing a pharmaceutical warehouse
Youths and Sports:
*Government will complete the Orlu and Okigwe ultra modern stadia;
*Government will build an ultramodern Fire proof Market with pre-fabricated materials in 2013 fiscal year.
LEGISLATURE: Government will embark on the construction of a new House of Assembly complex equipped with e-library, internet facilities and general networking system;
*Landscaping of the House of Assembly complex and also expand and equip its clinic with modern medical equipment.
JUDICIARY: Government will embark on the construction of new magistrates court buildings at Iho,Ubulu and Isu resopectively.
Community Government Councils(CGC):The CGC has come to stay.It’s an idea and pet project of this administration which purpose is to massively develop the state by effectively utilizing existing structures in the communities. It is also aimed at decentralizing governance and enhancing the growth of the agricultural sector
*GOVERNMENT will establish Five (5) Star Hotels at Okigwe and Orlu christened”Princess” and “Prince” Hotels respectively.
*The embargo on employment has been lifted.
2012-2015 Medium Term Development Plan-Imo Rescue Plan: Governor Okorocha recalled that in 2011, the Imo House of Assembly passed the 2012-2015 Imo State Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) known as “The Imo Rescue Development Plan” with a total size of N224billion; He said that the 2013 budget is also anchored on the 2012-2015 MTEF.According to the governor,” the capital allocations and projects in this budget are all part of the entire package”.
Finally, Governor Okorocha assured the populace that his predecessor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, would be probed and the documents to that effect would be released in the next 14 days.
