Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has said his administration can thrive without revenue from the Federal Allocations.
According to him, the state could thrive because its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) had improved.
Ugwuanyi spoke on Monday at the launch and public presentation of the Revised Enugu State Business Agenda (SBA), an initiative of the Enugu Coalition of Business and Professional Association (ECOBPA).
The governor, who was represented by Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, said his administration had implemented reforms to increase the state’s IGR. According to him, state’s narrative as a core civil service domain had been changed to include a state that was renowned for business.
He said: “Our state is currently the only one in the country surviving without Federal Allocations. We pay our workers and pensioners as and when due.”
Ugwuanyi hinted that he plans to make investors comfortable by providing the enabling environment.
The Consultant, Centre for International Private Enterprises (CIPE), Mathew Kalu, who presented the policy brief, said there was great need for economic reforms in the state.
Kalu, who decried the high rate of IGR and rent, said revenue generation needed not be at the expense of businesses.
According to him, the issue had impugned on the development and growth of businesses in the state. He called for the adoption of a business agenda for important reforms.