By Maureen Agbala
The Anambra State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Chukwukadibia Okoye, has called on residents and other stakeholders to help shape the state’s 2027 budget, assuring them that their contributions will inform spending priorities and the projects government plans to deliver across communities.
Speaking at the 2027 Budget Consultative Forum organised by the ministry at Best Western Meloch Hotel in Awka on Oct. 9, Okoye said the exercise was an opportunity for the government to listen to the people rather than make decisions without their input. He said every budget allocation had real consequences for traders, farmers, students, young entrepreneurs and families who depended on public services.
The commissioner said the 2027 budget would support Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s vision of making Anambra a liveable, smart and prosperous state, with priorities including road construction, urban renewal, business growth, education, primary healthcare, youth skills development and economic opportunities across the state’s 21 local government areas. He pledged that valid contributions from the forum would be reviewed by the ministry’s technical teams and incorporated into the draft budget estimates and the 2027 Appropriation Bill.
In her welcome address, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs Chinyere Nwabachili, also thanked the governor for supporting an inclusive budgeting process and urged stakeholders to contribute constructively to the state’s development priorities.
Speaking at the event, the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Chiamaka Nnake, urged residents and community leaders not to stop presenting their needs simply because particular projects had not been included in previous budgets. She said the government had continued to respond to community demands, adding that capital expenditure accounted for about 70 per cent of the state’s budget. Nnake encouraged stakeholders to offer practical suggestions on how limited public funds could address the most pressing needs of ordinary residents.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Civil Society Organisations in Anambra State, Chris Azor, welcomed the consultation but called for public participation to continue beyond the one-day meeting. He said civil society groups were ready to support transparency and accountability throughout the budget cycle, from planning and legislative approval to implementation and auditing.
Maureen Agbala is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
