2021 Budget: MDAs commence defence at Assembly with Economic Planning, Finance, Transport leading

Awka, Nov. 12, 2020 (MOI) Anambra State House of Assembly has commenced the budget discussions with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) on 2021 Appropriation Bill at the legislative complex, Awka.

The budget discussions witnessed intense questioning from the lawmakers and answers by the concerned MDAs on how they managed their 2020 approvals before their currently proposed 2021 budget would be approved.

Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Mr Obinna Emeneka, who opened the discussions told newsmen after interfacing with the Ministry of Economic Planning, Budget & Development Partners that the process would put the MDAs on their toes in order to spend wisely.

Mr Emeneka described the committee's interaction with the ministries as very satisfactory.

According to him, the Committee started with the Ministry of Economic Planning in order to have an insight into the budget estimates.

``The information obtained from them will enable the committee to access all the ministries that will appear before it.’’

Mr Emeneka said that the ministry was a key stakeholder in the articulation and formulation of the Appropriation Bill.

``The ministry is able to defend what will necessitate the indices on which allocations to ministries have been made.’’

Commissioner for Economic Planning, Budget & Development Partners, Mr Mark Okoye explained that the 2021 appropriation bill would pay more attention to critical areas such as health, education, food security, works, water and sanitation.

Mr Okoye averred that the state government would use the 2021 budget estimates to tackle unemployment in the state, boost Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), and construct roads that would have economic importance to the state; and very strategic to achieving a realistic budget.

The Ministries of Finance, and Transport, including the sister agencies -- Transport Company of Anambra State (TRACAS), the Anambra Traffic Management Agency (ATMA) and the VIO appeared before the committee.

They painstakingly defended their 2021 budget estimate of N202,863,262 as personnel budget with the overhead of N13,000,000 and N215,863,262 as Personnel CRFC and overhead Budget (Finance), and N615,553,397 (Transport) respectively.

Gov. Willie Obiano had on Nov. 3 presented a budget proposal of ₦143.65 billion for 2021 to the Anambra State House of Assembly.

The 2021 budget has been tagged: ``Economic Recovery and Consolidation'’’, would be aimed at promoting and sustaining the status of the state in making Anambra a hub for business and a destination for new investments. (MOI)