Umahi Signs 2020 Revised Budget In Lofty Dignity, Chides His Critics With More Projects

By Orji Uchenna Orji

With the signing of the 2020 Revised budget of Ebonyi State, the critics of the Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency, Engr. Chief David Nweze Umahi FNSE, FNATE will be leaking their wounds in shame as the Governor has vowed to further chide them with more life transforming projects.

A look at the content and context of the revised budget shows that the Governor's decision to position the economy of Ebonyi State on the part of prosperity is not hindered by the threat of Covid-19 pandemic. All over the globe, the menace of Covid-19 pandemic has impacted negatively on the performance of the budget of governments. But the State Government's post Covid-19 economic recovery plan has made it imperative for a holistic review of the 2020 budget to tackle the economic retardation that follows the pandemic.

Ebonyi is one of the first states that have reviewed their 2020 budget. This demonstrates the pro-activeness of the Governor in responding to the post covid-19 economic realities. The Governor had presented the budget proposals to the people of Ebonyi State during a town hall meeting held on the 24th of June, 2020. This thought to convoke '2020 Citizens Budget Input/Consultative Meeting is in line with the democratic principles of the Governor Umahi's administration and in tandem with Federal Government and World Bank Covid-19 budget revision standards. The people gave their views on the sectors that needed priority attention based on the impact of Covid-19 pandemic.
The wishes of the people were further presented to the State House of Assembly for legislation. In the Governor's words to the Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonnaya Nwifuru, he said " on 24th June, 2020, we held our citizens budget participation where our proposals were presented to the public for their inputs. I am happy to inform you that what we present to you is what they passed openly"
As part of the reasons for the review of the budget downwards, it was copiously explained by the Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development , Mr. Orlando Nweze that the revision of the approved 2020 budget became necessary as a result of the country's economic challenges and in extension, the dwindling financial resources of our State which are caused by;
The negative effect of COVID-19 pandemic;
The reduction in the oil prices from the original $57 dollars per barrel to a Federal Government approved $25 dollars per barrel;
A reduction in the nations oil production per day from 2.187million barrel per day to 1.7million barrel per day and
a devaluation of the Naira to Dollar from a rate of N305 per $1 to a rate of N360 per $1”.

Admittedly, Ebonyi State is among the least states in the Federal Allocation profile and has a very low status in internally generated revenue. The state government which had budgeted for N178, 136, 634, 975.38 in the 2020 fiscal year had to revise the budget downwards to a total of N132, 002, 391, 626.66. Highlights of the budget revision were the reduction of Personnel cost by 14.21% from N18.158B to N15.577B, Overhead Cost increased by 23.43% from N22.922B to N28.293B and Recurrent Contingency reduced by 80% from N5B to N1B. There was a 33% reduction in Capital Expenditure from N127.056B to N85.132B and Capital contingency was reduced by 60% from N5B to N2B.

The Governor's speech during the signing ceremony of the 2020 revised budget on Monday, 20th July, 2020 shows that he is on top of the economic situation orchestrated by Covid-19 pandemic. His words *“The current economic down turn in our country coupled with the ravaging Covid-19 Pandemic, the fall in both oil price and daily oil production and overall fall in expected capital receipts in the remaining part of the year are factors that cannot be ignored in the performance of the approved 2020 budget hence this request to review the approved budget downwards to reflect the present realities* ”.
The Governor is undaunted by the recession that comes with Covid-19. The dept of his tenacity of purpose can be captured by the determination expressed in his words “ *Our focus in the remaining seven months of this year is to complete all the ongoing projects before starting new ones while we pay great attention in the management of Covid-19 crisis and efforts to resurge the economy”.*

The State Government's determination to complete the on-going projects is borne by the desire to create economic opportunities for the people. Projects such as construction of ultramodern Stadium and an International Airport, completion of the 12-flyovers and dualization of some major roads started by this administration, completion of the International shopping Mall, completion of the Margaret Umahi International Market extension, completion of the Building Material market, full activation of the Pulverization plant, reactivation of the Pipe Production Company, completion of the industrial clusters, completion of the School of Medicine and equipping of the Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Health Care facilities; completion of the concrete roads, standardization of education sector and agricultural revolution, full utilization of the Ebonyi State Fertilizer Blending Plant, Rice and Cassava Processing Plants through public partnership arrangement, continuous empowerment of Ebonyi men and women, security and safety of the citizenry, through health care initiatives and social security schemes are in the front burners of the projects to be impacted by the state 2020 Revised Budget.

The Governor's courage and ability to do things differently to achieve these goals are the reason why the critics of his life transforming projects will leak their wounds in shame; it is the reason why the Governor is being celebrated by all lovers of good deeds. To God be the glory.

Hon. Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji is the
Honourable Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Ebonyi state. I