Anambra state has been declared one of the top three states in Nigeria and Abuja in fiscal performance ranking. The state is among the top three in moderating Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), Value Added Tax, operating expenses, loan repayments and capital expenditure.

This is according to BudgIT’s report on states fiscal performance ranking index, launched last week in Abuja. The report was titled, ‘State Of States 2021 Edition, Fiscal Options For Building Back Better’. Head, Research and Policy Department, BudgIT, Abel Akeni, who gave a breakdown of the report said: quote, “From our assessment of the 36 states, based on our evaluation of how they prioritize their expenditure and their revenue generation capacity, we have seen that certain states have more capacity to meet some of their expenditure obligations than others. We have a whole methodology which we use in evaluating states’ performance”. End of quote. According to the methodology, BudgIT arrived at a ranking for all the states and in it, Rivers state comes first, followed by Anambra and Ebonyi, meaning that the states performed better in all the four indexes used for the model.

Suffice it to say that Anambra state has a solid IGR generating capacity. Anambra is also able to prioritize capital expenditure better than their recurrent expenditure. The state is one of the five states in the country that spent more on capital expenditures than recurrent.

It would be recalled that in this period of national distress, Governor Obiano rejected bailout funds from Federal Government and refused to borrow from any external source. Yet, he is embarking on major capital-intensive legacy projects such as the International Cargo and Passenger Airport; International Conference Centre and FIFA-Standard Sports Stadium.

Obiano’s prudence, auditory and accounting expertise is showing forth. Hence, Anambra is the least indebted in Nigeria, according to NBS. Today, Anambra has the lowest poverty index in Nigeria. Anambra also has the highest growth rate of manufacturing outfits and the highest growth of import substitute endeavours in rice and vegetable production in Nigeria. In addition, Anambra is with the lowest loan exposure in Nigeria with the capacity to meet its monthly obligation to workers timeously. Anambra and Lagos are the only states involved in the building of new cities planned to meet the standard of any modern city in the world.

Furthermore, Anambra State is, today, receiving awards in four different categories at the 2021 President’s Teachers and Schools’ Excellence Award at Eagles Square, Abuja. The event is part of the 2021 World Teachers Day celebration. The award winning teachers are Nwoye, Njide Chiamaka; Nnabeze, Bridget M; Nzekwe, Amaka Azuka and Nwankwo, Ifeoma, who are receiving on behalf of the award winning school, Akpakogwe Central School, Ogidi.  It would be recalled that Anambra State had in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 consecutively won similar awards.

No doubt, the series of awards won by the State over the years, results from the passion of Governor Willie Obiano, the alert governor, for the provision of value-based leadership. The governor’s commitment for the welfare of teachers and workers as a whole elicited their dedication which brought about the series of awards.

Recall also that last month, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo commissioned the Agu Awka Injection Sub Station that has today boosted power supply in the state. Prof Osinbajo had earlier commissioned the digital Shoemaking Facility at Ogbunike, where he declared that Anambra is one of the fasted growing manufacturing hubs in Nigeria. He commended the Obiano administration, saying that business men and women had enjoyed conducive environment in the state.

Following the commissioning, very soon, apart from exporting vegetables and other agricultural products, Anambra will equally be exporting shoes and sandals as the products made with the digital leather and shoe equipment now look like ones made in Europe and elsewhere.

Indeed, the APGA government in Anambra state is a force to reckon with in terms of delivery of democracy dividends. If not broken, why mend it? Let’s give Professor Chukwuma Soludo chance to continue from Chief Obiano will stop for a better and more prosperous Anambra, the light of the nation.

WRITTEN BY SIR NOBERT OBI

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