By Anastasia Agunwa/Chizoba Okeke/Gloria Abugu :
Some Ministries, Departments and the Agencies of Anambra State Government have appeared before the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation to defend their 2023 budget estimates of their offices.
The Chairman House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Mr. Obinna Emeneka urged them to state clearly the expenditures of the last budget and the 2023 proposed budget to acquaint the committee of the requisite knowledge that would enable them increase or reduce the budget for efficiency.
In his part, Mr. Obiora Obiabunmuo of the Office of the State Bureau of Statistics said Governor Soludo administration is focused on technology to improve the services and minimize costs of governance in the state.
According to Obiabunmuo, I will automate the system, move everything into technology and the programmes of the state governor so as to be at par with the current trend in the 21st century.
The sum of N136 million was proposed in the 2023 budget for running of the Bureau.
“For us to minimize costs, we are taking that drive from the governor, to also collect and collate data and analyze these data so that government can plan better, have reasonable and reliable data to be able to plan well.
“Likewise this 2023 budget defence, If you have data, funds will be allocated properly and there will be reliable and up-to- date data, as technology is the focus”, he stated.
Also, the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency(ANSIPPA), Mr. Mark Okoye said Anambra Development Corporation when established would help to execute government projects.
Okoye disclosed that the Corporation would be flagged off in the first quarter of 2023, saying that the ownership will be Anambra State Government, hoping that 16 billion will be injected in, to achieve capital base.
He said that there were many enterprises in the state and all were centred on infrastructural development of the state.
“Some of them are running optimally and they all need capital injection. But as you know, we have a road crisis in this state and a lot of resources.
” The 2022 budget is channeled towards infrastructural development of roads, healthcare and education.
“A number of these enterprises can be run as viable businesses and viable enterprises. So one way one that we are exploring is as concession and privatization.
“Working with the private Sector for enterprises or corporation to get them up and running. And with the cash, you get adequate resources to support the project.
“You have to view these proposals for the understanding of the people.
“In ANSIPPA in the past, there were lots of agreements signed by the agency at about 42, but out of it, we have exited 20. We got the lands back and a lot of them have been taken over. Remaining about 20 , about four or five have activity on ground.
“What the governor had approved is for us to work with forensic Auditor to look at all of these on the case by case basis, and give us an independent assessment and strategic recommendation on what we should do.
“What is really exciting is how we are looking for the future because of the economic downturn. So every time there is economic fluctuations, it affects the ability of the private Sector to invest in viable ventures.
“For the future, under Governor Soludo, we all know that he created the African Finance Commission when he was the Central Bank governor. And as at today, its being owned by seven or ten African countries where they all contributed one billion dollars 15 years to establish that corporation. Today it has a balance sheet of about 12 billion dollars.
“Governor Soludo wants to create similar thing in Anambra state called Anambra Development Corporation, which he embarked upon. It will have board.
” We are looking at industrial parks, gas plants, major water and transportation projects, housing project and any form of infrastructural project that supports our job as ANSIPPA.
“We will Concession it to make that project a bankable one. And this will enable Ndi Anambra including those in Diaspora to invest in”, he explained.
