*Education Takes Lion Share In Enugu 2025 Budget -Commissioner
By Wilfred Chukwuma
Education Sector has taken the highest allocation of N320.6b in the Enugu State 2025 budget.
The state Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Chris-Roberts Ozongwu disclosed this during the Press briefing on the Year 2025 Budget Breakdown held at Enugu Press Centre on Thursday(19/12/24).
The Honorable Commissioner who gave a detailed breakdown of the N971,084,000,000.00, 2025 Budget of Enugu State, christened the budget of “Exponential Growth and Inclusive Prosperity”, also pointed out that the budget’s vision is to “make Enugu one of the top 3 states in Nigeria in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and achieve a zero percent rate in the poverty headcount index; development agenda and the sector MEDIUM TERM STRATEGIC PLANS (MTPS)”.
Ozongwu while speaking on the key sectorial projects earmarked to be executed in 2025, said that in education which got an unprecedented allocation of N320,609,059,660, the government would construct 200 Integrated Model Smart School (Primary 1-JSS 3) at N100 billion.
“The government earmarked N146 billion for equipping Smart Schools across the 260 political wards in the state. The government will spend N10.7 billion for upgrading of three of state public secondary schools to Smart High Secondary Schools (structures).
“The government also earmarked construction of Smart Senior Secondary Schools at N10 billion”, he said.
“The government would upgrade campuses of Awgu and Oji River Nursing Schools with new facilities with N1 billion and N500 million for first-phase construction of 3-storey buildings for standard library, auditorium and classrooms, at Awgu campus among others”, he added.
He further noted other Key Projects Outlined in the 2025 Budget which included Health, Transport, Tourism, Water, Electricity, Agriculture, Works and infrastructure, Housing, among others, which have significant allocation portioned respectively.
While still speaking on the key Projects outlined in the Budget, he revealed that the projects earmarked for the water sector has “N1b for Design and construction of Semi-urban water schemes across the state: Idodo, Nvenne, Amodu etc water scheme.
“N9b for construction of new distribution lines from twin to new market reservoirs”, he enumerated.
“N9b for distribution of new pipeline extension to new estates and clusters in Enugu”, he added.
The commission further noted that the government would spend N2 billion for equity contribution for additional 100 buses for the intra-city mass transit concession and earmarked N5 billion for procurement of 200 tipper trucks for mining, as he speaks on the Transport sector.
He said, “The government to spend N1.2 billion for construction of ultra modern logistics hub; N1.6 billion for construction of one transport interchange via PPP and N1 billion for provision of traffic signage/road marking.
“The government has earmarked N10 billion for construction of 10 Electric Charging points; N2 billion for equity contribution for phase one of 135.4kilometres rail and N19 billion for provision of four aircrafts for Enugu Air among others.”
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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Sam Udekwe is a journalist working in the News and Current Affairs department, Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) Enugu. He is well trained in all genres of journalistic venture.
Mr Sam read Mass Communication, graduating all with Distinction in National Diploma, Higher National Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma at IMT, Enugu and Madonna University, Okija, Anambra state, while he is presently on his M.Sc programme also in Mass Communication, at National Open University of Nigeria.
He is currently the NUJ Chairman, Enugu state.
samowailo@gmail.com
