Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo has signed the state’s 2026 appropriation bill of N1.43 trillion into law.

The governor performed the signing in a brief ceremony at the new Government House Annexe, in the Orlu council area of Imo, on Wednesday.

The governor, on December 23, presented the budget estimate of N1.43 trillion, christened “Budget of Economic Breakthrough”, to the state’s assembly.

The lawmakers subsequently approved the budget on December 24 without any alterations of the presented figures.

Mr Uzodimma thanked the assembly members for expediting the scrutiny and approval of the budget for passage.

He expressed delight that the year 2025 was ending on a high note for the state and promised to consolidate its gains.

 “I’ve just signed into law the 2026 budget in fulfilment of the constitutional requirement of checks and balances between the executive and the legislature.

 “We must now go to work and make this money before we can spend it for our people,” he said.

The governor assured Imo people that no new projects would be delivered, adding that all ongoing projects in the state would be completed before the end of his term in office.

He also thanked the President Bola Tinubu-led federal government for providing the enabling environment for states of the federation to make more money and pledged judicious use of resources available to the state.

Speaking, the deputy speaker of the House of Assembly, Amara Iwuanyanwu, assured the people that the assembly would meticulously follow the implementation of the budget for the optimal benefit of the people.

 “We promise a more robust monitoring of the implementation of the budget,” he said.

Present during the signing were the state’s deputy governor, Chinyere Ekomaru, the acting Chief Judge, Justice Ijeoma Agugua, members of the state assembly and members of the state executive council. 

(NAN)