Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has presented a record-breaking N971 billion budget proposal for the 2025 fiscal year to the Enugu State House of Assembly. The budget, titled “Budget of Exponential Growth and Inclusive Prosperity,” includes N837.9 billion for Capital Expenditure, making up 86% of the total budget, and N133.1 billion for Recurrent Expenditure, accounting for 14%.
This proposed budget surpasses the previous record of N521.5 billion set in 2024, which included N414.3 billion for Capital Expenditure and N107.2 billion for Recurrent Expenditure. The 2025 budget continues to prioritize significant investments in education, infrastructure, and essential services such as roads, water supply, transport, energy, and the modernization of public services. The education sector alone is allocated N320.6 billion, representing over 33% of the total budget for the second consecutive year.
Governor Mbah emphasized that this budget aligns with his administration’s goals of poverty eradication and inclusive development, ensuring no segment of society is left behind. He also highlighted the impressive growth in the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), which increased from N37.4 billion at the end of 2023 to N144.7 billion by September 2024, a 286.2% rise, reflecting efforts to reduce reliance on federal allocations.
Addressing the House, Mbah stated, “In crafting this budget, we have sought to lay the right foundation in Enugu to enhance the economy and attract more private investment. Despite the challenging economic environment, we remain committed to elevating our state to a top-three status in terms of GDP nationally and eradicating poverty.”
The governor outlined the budget’s breakdown, with N133.1 billion allocated for Recurrent Expenditure and N837.9 billion for Capital Expenditure. He also detailed the sources of revenue, estimating total Recurrent revenues for 2025 at N692.2 billion, including IGR, statutory revenue, exchange rate differentials, and VAT.
The budget also focuses on health, road infrastructure, transport, agriculture, and water sectors. Significant allocations include N45.8 billion for healthcare, N213.1 billion for works and infrastructure, N82.3 billion for agriculture, and N41.1 billion for transport, including the expansion of Enugu Air and the construction of an international cargo terminal.
Governor Mbah noted the remarkable increase in the state’s IGR since his administration began, with projections to surpass N200 billion by the end of the year. The Speaker of the State Assembly, Hon. Uchenna Ugwu, promised early passage of the budget to support the governor’s development initiatives, praising Mbah’s leadership and commitment to the state’s economic growth.
