Enugu East LGA Budgets ₦18.87bn for 2026 fiscal year, targets infrastructure expansion, others

Chairman of Enugu East Local Government Area, Pastor Beloved Dan Anike, has presented a ₦18.87 billion 2026 Budget Proposal to the Enugu East Legislative Council, outlining development agenda anchored on infrastructure expansion, economic growth, social welfare and institutional consolidation.

Tagged “The Budget of Consolidation and Economic Advancement,” the proposal was presented at the Legislative Council Chambers.

The chairman described the 2026 fiscal year as a decisive scaling phase for his administration. He explained that while 2025 served as a transition period for stabilising systems and aligning policies, the coming year would focus on accelerating delivery and deepening the impact of governance across communities.

According to the chairman, the proposed budget represents a significant expansion over the 2025 estimates and is deliberately investment-driven, with 78 per cent allocated to capital expenditure and 22 per cent to recurrent expenditure, reflecting the council’s commitment to growth-oriented spending.

Achievements underpinning the proposal

Highlighting achievements recorded in the outgoing fiscal year, Pastor Anike said the council made targeted interventions in education, healthcare, youth development and infrastructure. In the education sector, he disclosed that WAEC examination fees were paid for 1,700 students, while scholarship schemes for secondary and tertiary students were introduced. He also noted the construction and take-off of 15 Smart Green Schools across wards, supported with teacher training, fencing, water facilities and logistics.

In healthcare, the chairman said over 5,000 residents were enrolled in the Health Insurance Scheme, while three new Primary Health Centres were constructed in Neke Uno, Obinagu and Nkpologwu, complementing the 12 Type-2 health centres being built by the state government. These efforts, he added, earned Enugu East commendation from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Grand Champion Award 2025 from the Enugu State Universal Health Coverage Agency.Youth development also featured prominently, with more than 3,000 youths benefiting from vocational and technical training in ICT, mechanical trades, aviation middle-level skills and emerging technologies through partnerships with relevant institutions. The council, he said, is set to formally launch the One-Youth-One-Skill Initiative in January 2026.

On infrastructure, Obi-Anike listed the construction and rehabilitation of about 10.4 kilometres of roads in Emene, Ugwomu, Ifo/Harmony Bypass, Eziama and Ibagwa, alongside drainage works, culverts and a mini-bridge. He also announced the opening of new access roads linking Onyohu–Awhum (10km) and the Ako–Ugwuomu farm estate corridor (6km). Power supply was enhanced through the installation and energisation of 15 transformers across several communities.

Budget structure and sectoral priorities

Breaking down the 2026 estimates, the chairman said the economic sector received the largest allocation of ₦7.52 billion (38.36 per cent), targeted at road construction, agriculture, market development, rural and urban electrification, tourism and housing.

The social sector was allocated ₦4.45 billion (24.25 per cent) to support education, healthcare, youth empowerment, sports development, gender inclusion and social protection. The administrative sector received ₦2.05 billion (10.87 per cent) to strengthen governance efficiency, digital transformation and staff capacity, while ₦810 million (4.5 per cent) was earmarked for law, justice and security to boost surveillance, neighbourhood watch operations and community safety.

Among the flagship programmes slated for 2026 are the establishment of women empowerment cooperatives in all wards, interest-free revolving loans for traders and farmers, bursary payments for about 1,000 undergraduates, full sponsorship of at least 100 students in medicine and other critical professions, expanded healthcare coverage targeting 10,000 enrollees, completion of ongoing road projects, development of modern markets, and full operation of the Enugu East Investment Company.

Stakeholders commend budget direction

Reacting to the presentation, the Leader of the Enugu East Legislative Council, Rt Hon. Obumneme Obed Eke, commended the chairman for what he described as a broad-based budget that captures key sectors driving the local economy. He acknowledged the cordial relationship between the executive and the legislature, attributing it to transparent governance, and assured that the council would give the proposal accelerated consideration.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Enugu East Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Emmanuel Ugwu of Ibagwa Nike, said the current administration had demonstrated a clear departure from past practices through prudent management of resources. He pledged the continued support of traditional rulers for the council’s development agenda.

Similarly, the Anglican Bishop of the Nike Diocese, Rev. Dr Christian Onyeka Onyia, observed that the budget showed strong prospects for implementation, noting that it did not hinge on borrowing. He expressed optimism that residents of Enugu East would continue to experience progress, adding that “the people will rejoice when the righteous are in authority.”Anike urged the legislature to approve the budget in the collective interest of the people, reiterating that the 2026 fiscal plan is designed to deliver jobs instead of joblessness, infrastructure instead of decay, healthcare instead of neglect, and opportunity instead of exclusion across Enugu East Local Government Area.