ANAMBRA ASSEMBLY DEMANDS TRANSPARENCY IN 2027 BUDGET PROCESS
By: Safiya Abdulrahim Dabban
The Anambra State House of Assembly has urged the state government to ensure transparency in budget implementation, prioritise critical infrastructure and meet statutory deadlines for the passage of the 2027 budget.
The lawmakers made the demands while adopting the report of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation on the 2027–2029 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).
Presenting the report, the committee chairman, Mr Ejike Okechukwu, said the framework provides the fiscal guidelines for preparing the state’s annual budget.
The committee recommended an exchange rate benchmark of ₦1,400 to the dollar for the 2027 budget and called on the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning to explain the projected ₦214.9 billion deficit and outline measures to address possible revenue shortfalls.
The lawmakers also stressed the need for a transparent project-selection process, urging the government to prioritise critical infrastructure, the state’s Vision 2070 agenda and projects that directly address residents’ needs.
They called on the executive to present the 2027 appropriation bill to the Assembly on or before November 9, 2026, to allow sufficient time for consideration and passage ahead of the December 1 deadline.
The Assembly further urged the government to sustain funding for projects under the Community Charter of Demand, warning that unnecessary mid-year budget cuts could disrupt projects identified as priorities by communities.