The Anambra State Government has inaugurated a committee for the 2027 Budget Committee, tasking its members with producing a transparent, disciplined and evidence-based appropriation that addresses residents’ priority development needs.
The government said the 2027 budget process would be anchored on transparency, fiscal discipline and integrity, describing the budget as the principal instrument for translating government policies and programmes into tangible socio-economic development.
The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Chukwukadibia Okoye, inaugurated the committee on Friday at the Inter-Agency Board Room of the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Jerome Udoji Secretariat, Awka.
According to a statement issued after the inauguration, Okoye urged members to approach their assignment with commitment, focus and a strong sense of responsibility, stressing that their appointment was merit-based and that they were expected to work in the collective interest of Anambra State.
He said the budget process must remain transparent and people-centred to ensure that public resources are allocated to projects capable of delivering measurable benefits to residents while advancing Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s development agenda.
Explaining the rationale for the physical inauguration, the commissioner said it was designed to foster teamwork, collaboration and shared ownership among committee members throughout the budget preparation process.
Okoye directed the committee to prioritise evidence-based project selection, insisting that only projects backed by verifiable data, genuine public needs and clear developmental impact should be included in the 2027 appropriation.
He also emphasised the importance of commencing the budget process early, strengthening collaboration among Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), preparing accurate project cost estimates and developing realistic revenue and expenditure projections to enhance the credibility and implementability of the budget.
Highlighting key development challenges confronting the state, particularly erosion, the commissioner urged the committee to ensure that limited resources are channelled towards projects that address the state’s most pressing needs and deliver sustainable long-term benefits.
Okoye further instructed members to uphold discipline, integrity and transparency at every stage of the budgeting process, warning against inflated project costs and duplication of projects while directing them to prioritise the completion of ongoing projects before initiating new ones.
He also charged the committee to explore measures for growing the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), attracting support from development partners and donor agencies, promoting prudent public spending and ensuring smart prioritisation of critical infrastructure and environmental interventions, including erosion control.
Expressing confidence in the committee’s ability to deliver, the commissioner said he was optimistic it would produce a credible, people-centred 2027 budget capable of accelerating sustainable development across Anambra State.
The Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning pledged its full support to the committee throughout the exercise, reaffirming its commitment to producing a budget that reflects the aspirations, priorities and welfare of the people of Anambra State.