Aniocha North LG: Council Boss Presents N3.7 Billion As 2021 Budget Estimate

By Chijioke Ugbolue

The Executive Chairman of Aniocha North Local Government, Hon Kevin Okwechime has presented the Local Government budget estimate of over N3.7 billion Naira, to the Legislative Arm, for the 2021 fiscal year.

Hon. Okwechime presented the budget on Tuesday 22nd June, 2021 at the resumed sitting of the legislative arm in Its newly renovated Chambers at Issele-uku.

The Vice Chairman, Hon. Princess Tina Amuamuziam, the SLG, Hon Uche Chiejine, Supervisors of the Council, the Head of Personnel Management, Dr. Patricia Dede and the Treasurer to the Local Government, TLG, Rev. Mrs. Maureen Eboka, accompanied the Chairman to the Legislative arm for the official presentation of the budget estimate.

ALSO READ: Yoruba Leader Commends Gov. Okowa For Appointing Ukah As SSG In Delta

Addressing the legislature, the Council Chairman, said the budget which he tagged, “Budget of Hope”, was prepared in compliance with the international public sector accounting standards, as obtainable in the federal and state Governments, saying that the budget when passed into law, will serve as a guide for the implementation of the financial plans of the Local Government for the year 2021.

He noted the poor performance of the 2020 budget, attributing it to dwindled allocation from the Federal Government and poor internal generated revenue.

“As a result, only 25% of the budget was implemented, “Okwechime stated and expressed the hope that the 2021 budget will perform better.

“I hereby present to the Honourable House the 2021 draft estimate of the sum of N3, 712, 343,700.75 (Three Billion, Seven Hundred and Twelve Million, Three Hundred and Forty Three Thousand, Seven Hundred Naira and Seventy Kobo).

“It is our hope that the budget performance which was constrained by limited revenue in 2020 will be better in 2021, in the light of the above expectations therefore, this budget is christened a budget of Hope,” he said.

Breaking down the budget estimate, Hon. Okwechime said that the Local Government is expecting the sum of N2, 804, 432, 333.46 from the Federal Account Allocation while the sum of N567, 806,238. 02 is being expected from internally generated revenue.

The Council boss said that the Local Government in the 2021 fiscal year, is expected to spend the total Sum of N3, 712, 343,700.75 with N2, 788, 463, 700.75 allocated to take care of personnel cost, N414, 150,000.00 goes to overhead cost while N509, 730,000.00 was allocated to capital expenditure.

He said that the budget deficit is expected to be financed by domestic borrowing if approved by the legislative arm.

“Therefore, I urge the Honourable Members to give a speedy consideration to this draft as it is my hope that the budget will be implemented after your approval,” Hon. Okwechime assured the Councillors.

The budget estimate was unanimously accepted as a working document of the House under the Leadership of Hon. Nwike Okonkwo, upon a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Hon. Ernest Azuonuche seconded by Hon. Raphael Kanwei, Councillor Ward 19, Issele-uku.

Responding on behalf of his colleagues, the Leader of the House, Hon Nwike Okonkwo assured that the legislative arm will work assiduously to give the budget estimate a speedy consideration and passage.