By Mary Ugorji
The 2024 budget stakeholders meeting of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in Imo State has ended in Owerri.
In his address at the meeting held on Wednesday, the Director, NDDC Imo State Office, Engr. Anthony Okanne, noted that Imo is one of the member States of NDDC, saying the essence of the meeting was to ensure the implementation of NDDC programs and polices through the State Office.
He emphasized the importance of budgeting, stressing that it helps any organization to achieve its aims and objectives, reiterating that the Commission will continue to support the Imo State government in the areas of infrastructural development, quality healthcare delivery, portable water supply, education support and human capacity building.
“We are aware that development is a joint venture and effective budget planning relies on the cooperation of all stakeholders. This budget stakeholder’s meeting is in keeping with the desire of NDDC Management to get the input of the Commission’s critical stakeholders in the 2024 budget. For the first time, we are having this elaborate Stakeholder’s Engagement in our budgeting, this is to ensure inclusive and participatory budgeting.
“We have invited you here from deferent communities of Imo State to participate and hear from you as we commerce the NDDC budget planning for the 2024 fiscal year he started.
“We should note that this budget year cannot accomplish every single demand of our stakeholders as some may turn out to be long-term project. The budget is not an exhaustive list, hence we shall strive to limit ourselves on the very impactful projects. The Management approved a guideline for this years Budget cycle which stipulates timelines for all processes, as well as the adoption of Zero-Based Budget (ZBB) process that seeks to justify individual resource allocation plans, regardless of previous years’ provision and discourages the practice of regular incremental budget adjustments
“It is worthy of mention that NDDC is for all of us and the Commission through her various projects and programmes in the state has shown the desire to support the Government and the people of Imo State in the areas of infrastructural development, quality healthcare delivery, portable water supply, education support and human capacity building. Imo State Office despite her meagre revenue allocation since inception has completed and delivered to the state over 346 road projects, 48 School construction and rehabilitation projects, more than 40 solar powered street lights and rural electrification projects, over 44 solar powered water and conversational water projects, 23 health center and social services, building, training and equipping of over 150 Imo youths and women in various socio-agro projects, 4 mini grid/hybrid solar system, equipping of schools and distribution of various relief material to the state with several projects still ongoing, though some are abandoned. Our projects span across the entire 27 local government areas of Imo State. This is one of the Federal Government Development Agencies that touches every LGA “.
Speaking, Barr. Dame Elsie- Tagbo RBK Okafor, said NDDC should also focus more on capacity building and set up Community Mediator in each community so that something comes up in the community mediator to be able to reach out to the youth for improved peaceful environment.
With Hon. Kyrian Chidi Ukaegbu, expressing happiness over the meeting and turnout of members which he described as an opportunity to interface to understand that NDDC is deferent from Ministry of Finance, rather than interventionist agency, to make sure that whatever is needed is provided for even developments. “We have to embrace peace as a matter of fact for the development to stand still, I therefore call on the traditional rulers, religious leaders, teachers and youths to come together to bring peace in the area.
Those in attendance included the traditional rulers, government appointees, Imo Assembly Members, prominent sons and daughters of NDDC.
