Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Martin Elechi yesterday presented to the State House of Assembly a budget proposal of N86, 986,068,160 for the 2012 appropriation year.

Presenting the budget tagged Budget of Pragmatism, Chief Elechi said it is 18 per cent higher than the 2011 revised budget, which is also the highest so far in the life of his administration.

A breakdown of the proposed budget shows that the recurrent budget of N53, 258, 842,230 accounts for 61.29 per cent while N33, 637, 225 930, which is 38.71 per cent, is expected from capital receipt.

Recurrent expenditure of N40.67 billion representing 40 per cent of the total expenditure was proposed while capital expenditure stands at N46.22 billion, representing 53 per cent of the proposed budget.

According to the proposal, water supply and sanitation has the highest provision of N9.53 billion and accounts for 21per cent of the capital budget.

Roads and electricity were allocated N9.34 billion, general administration has N7.41 billion.

Part of the money under capital project will be used to complete the two water schemes at Oferekpe and Ukawu, procure electro-mechanical equipment and complete the ongoing pipe-laying from Oferekpe water works to Abakaliki metropolis.

According to the proposal, Food supply has the list allocation with an appropriation of N2.03 billion, representing 5 per cent of the total budget. It is expected that the amount appropriated will be used to complete the three rice cluster under construction by the state government.

Elechi expressed optimism that the budget, when passed, would be judiciously implemented, adding that the new budget would substantially transform the state along the line of the transformation agenda of the federal government.

Responding, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Chukwuma Nwanzunku, assured the governor that the budget would be speedily passed to enable him to continue the execution of his laudable projects in the state.