Tony Icheku in Owerri
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State yesterday assented to the 2024 Appropriation Bill of N592.2 billion.
At a brief ceremony after signing the bill into an Act at the Government House, Owerri, Uzodimma said that the success of the budget would depend on the prudent implementation of the items contained in the document.
He assured the people of the state that the budget would act both as a stimulus and catalyst for the growth and development of Imo in line with the theme: “Budget of Renewed Economic Growth.”
“In the history of Imo, there has not been an annual budget with a capital expenditure of over 82 per cent, meaning when implemented, the result will make Imo the envy of other states,” he said.
He commended the Speaker and members of the State House of Assembly for the uncommon synergy and conceding to his request to give the bill accelerated hearing and passage.
The governor, who congratulated Imo people as the ultimate beneficiaries of the synergy between the executive and legislature, promised prudent implementation of the budget.
He urged everyone working for government to do the same.
He also promised to sustain the cordial relationship and synergy that existed between the three arms of government.
He, however, called for all hands to be on deck to raise the revenue proposed in the budget to enable his administration ensure total implementation and achievement of the budget target.
He called for strict closure of all revenue leakages in the state, promising to “deal with all those who are fraudulent and the criminally-minded in the government circle.
“Government will be ruthless to any public officer or appointee who engages in fraud and corruption in this administration, going forward.
“I will leave no stone unturned in advancing the cause of Imo,” he said.
Presenting the bill to the governor, the Speaker, Mr Chike Olemgbe, said the bill brought to them was “carefully crafted”, which made their job “easy and seamless”.
According to him, the proposal shows that the governor is determined to give Imo people “renewed overall growth and development”.
The speaker promised that the lawmakers would work as partners with the executive to ensure that Imo people enjoyed the dividend of democracy under his and Uzodimma’s leadership.
He said that the bill passed through all the legislative processes from the day it was presented on December 12 to its passage.
