The 2020 fiscal year would be used to strengthen governance with a view to meeting people’s well-being according to the State Governor Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu.
In his address at the 2020 budget presentation at the State House of Assembly, Dr. Ikpeazu explained that Government would engage citizens in project selection through Community Needs Identification Initiative (CNII) so as to meet the Community Charter of Demand (CCD).
According to the Governor, “There will be deliberate efforts to sustain measures and improve on our internally generated revenue as well as measures to encourage various economic empowerment programmes to reduce the level of poverty and unemployment among the youths.”
He itemized the strategic premises upon which the 2020 budget is built to include:
• Provision of enabling environment for investors.
• Completion of on-going projects.
• Encourage and support entrepreneurship development.
• Development of human capital.
• Massively promote Made In Abia Goods and Services
• Development of Agricultural value chain.
• Initiate strategic reforms and sustain value reorientation in the Public Service.
• Support growth of SMEs
• Intensify the realization of the Enyimba Economic City project
• Sustain our commitment to the provision of needed infrastructure
• Provide environment for Peace and Security.
He hinted that his administration were adopting an innovative approach towards the engagement of resources and partnership with stakeholders to bring about different results as well as adopting a unique complementation of executive and bureaucratic exigencies in the identification and pooling of priorities, the planning of resource engagement and the methodologies for achieving results.
“Our focus remains to change the economic development template of the State but the emphasis of method will be on programme linkages. We no longer need stand-alone visions, we need integrated approaches. Policies, programmes and projects from the various sectors will have to speak to each other and build bridges towards the wholesome repositioning of the State economy. We will work to have MDAs synergies and tap into complementary capabilities while avoiding duplication of functions and projects and the attendant economic waste. Strategic partnerships shall be the fulcrum and main driver of our vision for the year 2020,” the Governor said.