Anambra Restates Commitment To Poverty Eradication

The Chief of Staff and Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget in Anambra State, Prof. Chinyere Okunna, has assured the people of the state of the government’s commitment to make it poverty-free.

Okunna gave the assurance in Awka while assessing the performance of the state in the outgoing year.

She said the state government had done well to attract its continuous inclusion by the EU, as it had qualified to gain from the 10th Economic Development Fund from the union.

She explained that Aguata and Anambra East local government areas had been selected to benefit from the EU programme next year.

Okunna assured the people of more foreign donors to partner with the state in 2013, noting that it would create a window of new jobs and economic empowerment.

She also said that skills acquisition centres had been created in the 21 local government areas and would swing into operation next year, and expressed optimism that they would address the issue of poverty and hunger in the state.

The commissioner expressed the hope that the programmes would make possible for everybody in the state to live above N150 per day, thereby addressing the issue of poverty and hunger.

She also said that the state had done well in the area of health by ensuring that almost all health centres had anti-shock equipment, noting that immunisation in the state remained unbeatable.

She also noted that the 2013 budget proposal the 32.39 per cent earmarked for the economic sector showed how committed the government was in eradicating poverty and hunger and assured the people that all sectors of the economy would be attended to as the budget was people-oriented and demand-driven.

She pleaded with the people to appreciate the governor and encourage him to serve them better by taking ownership of state projects in their areas.