Abia to continue with infrastructure development, despite declining revenue
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has decried the declining federal allocation to the state, but assured that his government, will ensure that the current economic crisis will not affect his infrastructural development programme as well as regular payment of workers’ salaries.
The governor, while addressing people of Abia Central Senatorial Zone, at the ongoing town hall meeting in the state, said the current economic crunch in the country had affected the state’s monthly federal allocation to N1.7 billion.
“I want you to understand that we are in tough times in the state. I am sure you’re aware of the economic hard times in the country that has occasioned the drastic drop in our monthly allocation to as low as N1.7 billion.
“Our monthly allocation as at today cannot support payment of workers’ salaries, not to talk of executing other projects. This has also impacted on our internally generated revenue (IGR),” he said.
He however assured the people that despite the obvious challenge that his administration would continue to improve on infrastructure and also pay salaries and solicited their support and understanding.
“We do not have any other option, but to improve infrastructure in the state, especially in Aba, the State’s commercial hub, to motivate people to pay taxes, thereby improving the IGR of the state.
“Let me inform you that we have received N1b agricultural loan from the CBN. This loan, I assure you, will be judiciously distributed to genuine farmers amongst us. I know our farmers, and let me inform political farmers whose farms are on the internet not to bother coming because this loan is not for you.”
The Governor, who addressed two separate meetings at Umuahia South and Isiala Ngwa North at the weekend, also informed the people of the zone that his administration has received N1 billion commercial agricultural credit loan scheme, from the central bank of Nigeria (CBN), and assured farmers in the State that the fund, would be disbursed judiciously.
Governor lkpeazu enumerated some of the achievements of his government so far to include, road infrastructure improvement and other strategic sectors of the economy, and further assured that the free school meal programme would be sustained for the benefit of Abia school children and their parents.
He stated that food stores have been opened in the three senatorial zones of the state, and will later be opened in all Local Government Areas for the sustenance of the free school meal programme, which his Government is implementing with massive support from the private sector.
Enyinnaya Appolos, chief press secretary to Governor Ikpeazu, explained that Abia North Senatorial Zone, hosted the maiden edition of the meeting.