Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi declared, yesterday, that Enugu State is now out of the economic woods and can survive even without allocation from Abuja.
Ugwuanyi, who disclosed this at Okpara Square, Independence Layout, in celebration of Democracy Day, said Enugu is one among 12 states in the country that sustain itself without monthly allocation from the Federation Account.
“Enugu is one of the 12 states that can survive without allocation from the centre,” Ugwuanyi reiterated.
The governor hinged his conviction on the state’s monthy internally generated revenue.
He disclosed that the state was able to generate over N22 billion in 2017, the first of its kind since the return to democracy in 1999 and also, attributed the ability to rake in revenue through internal means to the way government overhauled its agencies.
Ugwuanyi equally declared that Enugu is the number one state in the South East in IGR and that the state was rated number one in the utilisation of bailout funds.
Bouyed by the achievements of his administration since inauguration, Ugwuanyi said a scorecard has been prepared which would be made public soon.
Reeling out part of his achievements, the governor said the state government has built many roads in the rural and urban areas and embarked on massive renovation of public schools; to make teaching and learning more conducive.
Ugwuanyi, who said education is one of the priorities of his administration, pointed out that the state government has employed more teachers and one of the state-owned tertiary institutions, the Institute of Management and Technology has not held convocation for about 11 years now, would be doing so soon.
He equally pointed out that they have secured accreditation of courses for the Enugu State College of Education Technical, established nine years ago and have prepared its permanent site at Ihe, in Awgu Local Government Area.
Prominent Enugu indigenes, including Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu; two other senators from the state, as well as former senators and members of the House of Representatives, royal fathers, members of the House Assembly were at the ceremony.