Governor Hope Uzodimma on Tuesday presented a N447.4 billion budget proposal for the 2023 fiscal year to the Imo State House of Assembly.

Mr Uzodimma said the appropriation bill is tagged “Budget of wealth expansion.”

He said the budget comprised N150.4 billion in recurrent expenditure, representing 22 per cent, and N373.5 billion capital expenditure, representing 78 per cent.

The 2023 budget proposal is higher than the 2022 budget of N381 billion by N66.4 billion, representing 14.7 per cent.

The governor said the objective of the budget was to satisfy the people’s desires by delivering a sustainable dividend of democracy and expanding wealth for the Imo people.

He further said the budget would put the well-being of the people at the centre of governance through massive reconstruction of dilapidated infrastructures in urban and rural areas.

The governor assured the assembly of his “undying support and commitment” to the Imo people’s well-being.

He said there would be no room for the misappropriation of funds in his government, just as he commended the house for its solidarity with his administration.

The house speaker, Emeka Nduka, promised that the budget would be passed in good time to enable the governor to “continue his good work in 2023”.

He expressed confidence that the budget would address the people’s aspirations by providing infrastructure across the state.

The speaker thanked the governor for reconstructing a “world-class and digitised” house of assembly complex.

He said that it was obvious that the 2022 appropriation bill was judiciously implemented.

Also, Deputy Speaker Amara Iwuanyanwu thanked the governor for a “holistic implementation of the 2022 budget”.

(NAN)