Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has proposed a landmark ₦971 billion budget for 2025, marking the highest in the state’s history. Named the “Budget of Exponential Growth and Inclusive Prosperity,” it highlights the administration’s focus on education, infrastructure, healthcare, and economic transformation.

The budget was presented to the Enugu State House of Assembly on Tuesday and emphasizes inclusive development that benefits all residents, with education and infrastructure receiving significant allocations.

The ₦971 billion proposal is split into two main components:

• Capital Expenditure: ₦837.9 billion (86% of the budget).
• Recurrent Expenditure: ₦133.1 billion (14% of the budget).

This is a significant leap from the 2024 budget of ₦521.5 billion, which allocated 79% to capital projects and 21% to recurrent expenses.

Education (₦320.6 billion)
Education remains the cornerstone of the administration’s development strategy, receiving 33.2% of the total budget. This allocation will fund the modernization of schools, teacher training, and digital transformation to prepare Enugu for a knowledge-based economy.Governor’s Note:
“Education is both our sword and shield in the battle for economic growth and poverty eradication. This investment reflects our ambition to ensure no one is left behind.”

Infrastructure Development (₦213.1 billion)
Significant funds are earmarked for road construction and maintenance to achieve the administration’s goal of refurbishing all key roads in Enugu by 2031.

Agriculture (₦82.3 billion)
To tackle food inflation and support agro-industrialization, this sector will focus on increasing food production and developing agricultural value chains.

Healthcare (₦45.8 billion)
The government will invest heavily in healthcare infrastructure, aiming to provide quality medical services that support economic growth by ensuring a healthy population.

Transport (₦41.1 billion)

Enugu Air will be expanded with four additional aircraft.

A new taxi scheme in partnership with the private sector will modernize urban and inter-urban transport.

Plans include the concessioning of Akanu Ibiam International Airport and the construction of a new international cargo terminal.

The administration has recorded remarkable growth in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). From ₦37.4 billion in 2023, the IGR soared to ₦144.7 billion by September 2024, representing a 286% increase. Governor Mbah projects that IGR will surpass ₦200 billion by the end of 2024.

The governor’s strategy is to reduce reliance on federal allocations by focusing on local revenue sources, including:

• Internally Generated Revenue (₦509.9 billion).
• Value Added Tax (₦74.9 billion).
• Statutory revenue (₦48.7 billion).

This revenue growth supports the state’s ambitious spending plans while ensuring financial sustainability.

Reflecting on the 2024 budget, Governor Mbah highlighted its impressive 88% implementation rate.

• Total revenue by October 2024: ₦459.9 billion.
• Internally Generated Revenue: ₦144.8 billion.
• Capital Expenditure: ₦382.4 billion.
• Recurrent Expenditure: ₦76.5 billion.

The governor emphasized the need to build on this success to achieve greater results in 2025.

The 2025 budget prioritizes two broad sectors:

• Economic Sector: ₦462 billion (55.1% of the Capital Expenditure).
• Social Sector: ₦345.7 billion (41.2% of the Capital Expenditure).

Within these sectors, education, healthcare, agriculture, and transport are the main focus areas.

The Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Uchenna Ugwu, praised the governor’s leadership and pledged the Assembly’s commitment to swift approval of the budget.

“We shall expeditiously consider this budget to give you the legal framework needed to sustain your development strides,” Hon. Ugwu assured.

Governor Mbah’s 2025 budget is designed to elevate Enugu to one of Nigeria’s top three states in terms of GDP. By focusing on critical sectors like education, infrastructure, and healthcare, the administration aims to create sustainable growth and prosperity for all residents.

With bold investments and a clear vision, Enugu is on a path to becoming a model of economic success and social development in Nigeria.

This record-breaking budget represents Governor Mbah’s commitment to building a prosperous and inclusive future for Enugu State. The emphasis on education, infrastructure, and economic growth reflects a forward-thinking approach that prioritizes the well-being of all citizens.