Etche, Obio/Akpor LGA Presents Budget...Says Maintenance On Infrastructures Have Laded It With Overhead Cost

Gov Amaechi

Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council, Hon. Timothy E. Nsirim, has announced a budget of six billion, three hundred and ten million, nine hundred and thirty eight thousand, five hundred and forty three naira, ninety nine kobo (N6,310,938,543.99),  for the 2013 fiscal year.

The budget tagged ‘Budget of fulfilment’ was presented to the legislative House of the Council at Rumuodamaya, the council’s headquarter, on Wednesday, 6th March, 2013.

Asked of where the money would be generate from, Nsirim said that the council they are expected to source the money from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), statutory allocation from the federation account, Value Added Tax (VAT), excess crude account, budget augmentation and allocation from the State account.

“The council would source the money from our IGR, statutory allocation, VAT, excess crude oil, budget augmentation and the allocation we get from the state account,” he said. Click on read more to continue reading...

Stating how the budget would be divided, Nsirim mentioned that the council will spend the sum of three billion, three hundred and fifty one million, four hundred and sixteen thousand, nine hundred and twelve naira, forty seven kobo (N3, 351,416,912.47) as capital expenditure, while the sum of two billion, nine hundred and fifty nine million, five hundred and twenty one thousand, six hundred and thirty one naira, fifty two kobo (N2, 959,521,631.52), would be for recurrent expenditure.

Nsirim said that increase in urbanisation and infrastructural facilities put in place by Governor Chibuike Amaechi and the council have increased their overhead maintenance cost. 

“The infrastructural facilities and urbanisation that Governor Amaechi’s administration and the council put in place have increased our overhead maintenance. Mind you, I am not saying that it is bad to set up such infrastructures; it is actually one of the purposes that government was set up. I am only pointing it out as the prominent reason for the increase in overhead maintenance cost,” he stated.     

Hon. Nsirim, however, assured the people that his administration is capable of coping with the demand placed on it by the developmental facilities put in place.

He expressed optimism at embarking on the second phase of Rukpokwu international market and other projects that would create employment and improve the welfare of the people.

Also, the Chairman of Etche Local Government Council, Mr. Reginald Ukwuoma, has also presented its 2013 budget to the legislative arm of the council for approval.

Their budget totalled, three billion, four hundred and twenty five million naira (N3, 425,000,000).

The chairman breaking down the council’s budget tagged ‘Budget of Consolidation’ said that one billion, seven hundred and eighty one million, five hundred and ten thousand, four hundred and forty three naira (N1, 781,510,443) is for the recurrent expenditure, while one billion, six hundred and forty three million, four hundred and eighty nine thousand, five hundred and fifty seven naira (N1, 643,489,557) would be used for capital expenditure.

He added that the general administration would use one hundred and forty two million naira (N142, 000, 000) to maintain the council’s secretariat, Provision of Office, furniture, and repayment of loans.

While presenting the appropriation bill to the legislative house, Ukwuoma mentioned that economic sector, social services provision and community development topped the list on the budget.

Others on top of the list according to Ukwuoma includes, Education, Health, Information, Sports, Culture, Provision of Portable Water and the Sure-p empowerment programme.

He hinted that Eketa Igbodo market Project which has an administrative block, Police post, health office and mini fire service would be completed this year.

The Chairman therefore asked the councillors to ensure a speedy hearing and passage so as to get to work on its set out projects.

Receiving the appropriation bill, the leader of Etche Legislative Arm, Mr. Henry Nwekwe, commended Ukwuoma on the existing cordial relationship between the executive and the legislature while calling on the people of the council to continue lending their support so as to boost the actualisation of the set out projects.

“I want to let you know that we are pleased with the cordial relationship that exists between the executive and the legislative Arm of Etche Local Government Council. We ask that you strive to always keep it so and we in return will also do our best to maintain it. I want to use this opportunity to call on the people of Etche to lend their support so that these projects that your government wants to embark on for the good of our people would start off,” Nwekwe said.