By Emeka Chiaghanam
Freshly confirmed Commissioner for Budget and
Economic Planning, Pst. (Engr.) Chukwukadibia Okoye, has promised to bring
global financial expertise and disciplined budgeting into the heart of Anambra
State’s economic transformation drive.
Speaking with
journalists shortly after his confirmation at the Anambra State House of
Assembly, Okoye said his mission is to help turn Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s
long-term vision for the state into visible and practical benefits that
ordinary people can truly feel in their daily lives.
The chartered
accountant, banker and consultant described Anambra’s ambitious “Vision 2070”
development plan as bold and far-reaching, saying only a disciplined and
properly managed budget system can make such dreams become reality.
According to him, the
budget process remains the engine that will drive the governor’s economic
programmes and development agenda.
“When
you look at the Vision 2070 plan, it is massive and very audacious,” he said.
“It requires a disciplined budget process and disciplined execution to make it
work.”
Okoye
explained that the state would continue to rely on the Medium Term Expenditure
Framework to translate long-term plans into practical projects and measurable
development.
He
praised the progress already made by the Soludo administration, noting that Anambra
recently ranked number one in a national fiscal performance assessment released
by BudgIT.
“That
tells you the state has already made significant progress,” he said. “What I am
coming to do is to consolidate on those gains and improve on them.”
The newly
confirmed commissioner said his focus would centre on building a data-driven
budgeting system capable of delivering real economic impact beyond official
figures and statistics.
According
to him, development should not remain something discussed only in government
documents and economic reports, but something ordinary traders, workers and
families can see and experience.
“The
man on the street does not know what GDP means,” he said. “What he wants is a
better quality of life and tangible improvement in daily living.”
Okoye
assured Ndi Anambra that the policies to be introduced under his watch would
focus on creating measurable results that directly affect people’s lives
positively.
He also
promised to bring international best practices into public financial management
in the state, drawing from years of experience in banking, accounting and
corporate consulting both in Nigeria and abroad.
“I am a
chartered accountant licensed to practise in Nigeria, the UK and globally,” he
said. “I will bring global best practices on board.”
The
commissioner stressed that economic growth must go beyond numbers and
projections, adding that the ultimate goal of government is to build a
prosperous and liveable homeland for residents.
He said
the administration’s economic direction would be guided heavily by facts,
statistics and reliable data to ensure better planning and more effective
results.
“With
the policies we are going to implement, people will see tangible and measurable
benefits in their lives,” he added.
Okoye’s
confirmation has attracted attention within political and economic circles,
especially because of his background in finance, consulting and strategic
planning.
Many
observers believe his corporate experience and strong financial background
could play a major role in strengthening budget implementation, accountability
and economic planning in Anambra State.
As he prepares to fully settle into office, expectations
remain high that his expertise will help deepen fiscal discipline and support
the Soludo administration’s wider economic transformation agenda
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