The Enugu State government is to spend over Six hundred and
twenty-three million naira (N623,280,604.00) for the execution of
various developmental progrmmes and payment of salary to certain
categories of workers in the state.
The State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chuks Ugwoke who announced
this while briefing the Press at the end of the State Executive
Council Meeting said that approval to spend the sum was given at the
meeting chaired by the State Governor, Mr. Sullivan I. Chime.
According to the Commissioner, a breakdown of the amount shows that
over Thirty-seven million naira (N37,703,170.00) will be spent for the
payment of salaries of the newly recruited staff and those absorbed
into the state service from the date of their
appointment/reinstatement till date, while over Four hundred and
sixty-seven million naira (N467,266544.00) is for the establishment of
pineapple industry in the state.
The project will include procurement and installation of irrigation
facilities and fractional cost of cultivation of the first five
hundred (500) out of the (1000) one thousand hectares of the Enugu San
Carlos Pineapple project, to be located within the three local
governments areas of Awgu, Oji River and Udi.
The Commissioner also stated that out of the entire amount, the sum of
over Sixty-eight million naira (N68,410,890.00) was approved for the
construction of office spaces for the Commissioners and Staff of the
Judicial Service Commissioner, provide more court rooms, furnishing
and construction of a multi-purpose hall for judiciary workers. He
said that over forty-nine million (N49,900,000.00) was also approved
by the council to cover training and part of operating costs for the
State Rural Access and Mobility Projects (RAMP II) for this year.
According to him, the project which is jointly sponsored by the World
Bank, French Development Agency in collaboration with the Federal and
Enugu State Governments is currently embarking on the reconstruction
of 500 kilometers of the Umabi – Agbudu – Ihe – Awgu road as pilot
road in the state
The Commissioner who was accompanied by his Agriculture and Education
counterparts, Professor Martin Anikwe and Dr. Simon Ortuanya and the
Governor’s Special Assistant on Project Development Implementation
(PDI) Mr. Uche Nwobodo said that the council also approved the payment
of (N1,000.00) for the 2013 State First School Leaving Certificate
Examination for each pupil in the private schools while it is free for
pupils in public school.
The fee is to cover cost of stationeries registration forms, printing
of question papers, conduct of the examination and certification
