The proposed ₦971 billion budget marks an 86.4% increase from the ₦521.5 billion budget of 2024. Like the previous year, the 2025 budget emphasizes significant investments in education, infrastructure, and essential services. The education sector receives the largest allocation, with ₦320.6 billion—more than 33% of the total budget.

Governor Mbah also announced a remarkable 286.2% increase in the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), which rose from ₦37.4 billion in 2023 to ₦144.7 billion by September 2024. This surge is part of the administration’s strategy to reduce reliance on federal allocations and boost the state’s economic independence.

In his speech, Mbah stressed the importance of laying a solid foundation for sustainable economic growth and attracting private investment. Despite the challenging national economic environment, he affirmed his commitment to positioning Enugu among the top three states in Nigeria in terms of GDP and eradicating poverty within the state.

The proposed budget includes ₦133.1 billion for recurrent expenditures and ₦837.9 billion for capital expenditures. Mbah explained that the total recurrent revenues for 2025 are expected to reach ₦692.2 billion, significantly higher than the ₦383.8 billion from the 2024 budget.

Read also:

Education, a priority area, will receive ₦320.6 billion, representing 33.2% of the capital expenditure, as part of Mbah’s goal to transform Enugu into a knowledge-based economy. Other key sectors such as health, agriculture, water, and road infrastructure will also receive substantial funding to support the state’s development agenda.

The economic sector takes the largest share of the capital budget, with ₦462 billion allocated, while the social sector follows with ₦345.7 billion. Mbah emphasized that education remains central to his administration’s mission to drive economic growth and alleviate poverty in Enugu.