2021 Budget: Gov Obiano Provides Funds For Victims Of Police Brutality In N143.65bn Appropriation

The Anambra State governor, Willie Obiano, Tuesday, presented a budget estimate of N143.65bn to the Anambra State House of Assembly for the 2021 fiscal year.

The budget earmarks the sum of N200 million for victims of police brutality who may be recommended for compensation by the state’s Judicial commission of enquiry.

The budget estimate projected a recurrent expenditure of 39.5% (N56.77bn) and a capital expenditure of 60.5% (86.88bn).

The governor, while presenting the budget, code-named ‘’Economic Recovery and Consolidation’, said the budget would help to sustain the achievements of his administration. In his words, “This budget is based on realistic projections of all sources of revenue, both external and internal, taking into consideration, the state’s revenue and expenditure trend. It will drive the budget theme and help to sustain our past achievements. It will also ensure that we maintain our status as a hub for business and a destination for new investments.”

The budget estimate projected the sum of N46.7bn from federal allocations and 36.6bn from internally-generated revenue.

The governor nonetheless said taxes and levies would not be increased by his administration in the coming year. Other indices of the budget estimate include capital receipts projected at N20.9bn, personnel costs estimated at 17.6bn, total overheads estimated at 22.9bn, and social benefits, including pensions, gratuities, group life insurance and loan repayments estimated at N16.2bn.

Debt financing was also listed with an estimate of N11.0bn.

Obiano, in the budget, earmarked N32bn for infrastructural development and construction of roads and bridges. The sum of N19.44bn was proposed for the construction of new roads and rehabilitating existing ones.

The Anambra Road Maintenance Agency, ARMA, got N1.2bn. Further, about 50 ongoing road projects in the three senatorial zones of the state and access roads to agricultural communities and settlements would be completed and constructed, he added.

The proposed international cargo airport, located at Umueri, got N5.8bn, while the International Conference Centre, Awka, got N500m.

The sum of N500m was allocated for the development of sports stadiums in Awka, Ekwulobia and Otuocha.

Other sectors in the budget are: agriculture and related sectors – N2.5bn; education – N5.0bn; health – N6.8bn; water resources and public utilities – N3.77bn; youth empowerment and creative economy – N5.4bn.

Obiano also earmarked N200m for the compensation of proven cases of gross human rights violation, torture and death from activities of the defunct SARS in Anambra state.

The budget proposal also allocated funds for small and medium enterprises development, community social development and disability inclusive programmes.