I’ll Not Burden Ebonyi with Debt – Gov. Nwifuru promises

By Chinwe Imo-Eze Onwosi

Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, has reaffirmed his commitment to avoiding borrowing for project execution in the state. He emphasized that he will not create a debt burden for future generations, opting instead to explore alternative funding sources.¹

Gov Nwifuru said this resolve is in line with his administration’s focus on prudent financial management and sustainable development, which prioritizes the well-being and prosperity of citizens of the state.

The State Commissioner for information and State Orientation, Mr. Jude Okpor at the weekend made this known in a statement he signed and made available to newsmen in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state.

Okpor announced that reports from the Debt Management Office detailing the Domestic Debt Data for the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory has shown that Ebonyi is the least indebted state (all inherited) among the states in the Southeast, and Nigeria at large.

He also disclosed that Ebonyi State came second in the recently released 2024 BudgiT Fiscal Transparency League Table among the states in the federation, describing it as a tremendous improvement on the 2023 report and a testament of frugal management of resources of Governor Nwifuru.

The statement reads in part: “It is no longer news that the governor, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru is committed to his avowed resolve not to indulge in borrowing, not even a dime, for the execution of projects in the state.

“He does not believe in creating a debt burden for future generations. He works within the financial capacity of the state as enabled by the federal allocation and internally generated revenue. He is equally committed to offsetting the debt he inherited on assumption of office.

“Moreover, any effort at evaluating the indices for growth, development, and quality governance should not be selective. It should be comprehensive, including statistical facts provided by reliable bodies – both private and public

“For instance, verifiable information from the Debt Management Office detailing the Domestic Debt Data for the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory readily shows that Ebonyi is the least indebted state (all inherited) among the states in the Southeast, and Nigeria at large.

“More so, Ebonyi State came second in the recently released 2024 BudgiT Fiscal Transparency League Table among the states in the federation. A tremendous improvement on the 2023 report and a testament of frugal management of resources by FON-led administration

On the issue of tax contribution, he said: “Furthermore, a recent publication by the National Bureau of Statistics on tax contribution by states and revenue allocations to states in 2024, Southeast, was the worst in southern Nigeria.

“Viewed through the prism of the current tax reforms, where it succeeds, only creative Governors will be able to keep their state on the terra firma of meaningful progress.

Reacting on the issue of creativity by the governor, he said “Nwifuru’s ingenuity in this light could be seen in what South-East states contributed to the VAT pool and what they received in 2024:

Spread the News

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Message Us
voiceonlinenews
Hello
Can we help you?
Call Us