Sustaining The New Abia Momentum: Abia Begins 2027 Budget Consultations, Seeks People’s Input To Consolidate First Phase Of Otti’s Transformation Agenda

Beyond the figures, allocations and projections that will eventually make up the 2027 appropriation, however, the consultation carries a deeper significance. It is the final budget process of the administration’s first term and, therefore, offers an opportunity to take stock of what has been achieved, identify what remains to be done and determine the priorities that should guide the next phase of the New Abia project. By inviting citizens into the process, the government is seeking to make the budget a reflection of the people’s needs and aspirations rather than simply a document prepared within government offices.

This was the thrust of the message from the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Kingsley Anosike, who explained that the citizens’ engagement was in line with Governor Otti’s directive that the government must not prepare its budget in isolation from the people it exists to serve. His description of the engagement as a family discussion aptly captures the essence of the exercise. Abians are being invited to speak about their needs, assess the government’s performance and suggest areas requiring greater attention. His appeal to participants to “think ABIA” is equally significant, as it challenges stakeholders to place the collective interest of the state above individual, community or sectional demands.

For Dr. Eric Egwuibe, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Budget and Economic Planning, the consultation is also about deepening transparency and accountability in the management of public resources. His submission that government resources are, in reality, the people’s money gives citizens a legitimate stake in how those resources are mobilised and spent. The publication of the state’s budget and budget performance reports, he noted, is part of the administration’s effort to make public finance more transparent and accessible. The Citizens’ Budget is expected to further simplify the government’s economic assumptions, revenue sources, spending priorities and major policy initiatives, enabling citizens to better understand and participate in the budget process.

The 2027 budget, however, is expected to carry a responsibility beyond the immediate needs of the coming year. It will serve the dual purpose of consolidating the significant gains of Governor Otti’s first phase of transformation while laying the foundation for the second phase of the administration’s agenda. The first term has focused heavily on rebuilding infrastructure, improving healthcare and education, strengthening public institutions and directing scarce resources towards projects capable of transforming the economic and social fortunes of the state. The next phase will necessarily build on these foundations, deepen ongoing reforms and create greater space for sustainable development.

This continuity is particularly important in the context of Abia’s 25-year development agenda, which provides a longer-term framework for the state’s growth and transformation. The objective is to ensure that development is not interrupted by annual budget cycles or changes in political administration but follows a sustained and clearly defined path. If the first phase has been about laying the foundation for a new Abia, the coming years should be about strengthening that foundation and ensuring that the transformation becomes firmly established. By 2031, when Governor Otti is expected to conclude his second term, the expectation is that Abia will have attained a much stronger footing in infrastructure, economic development and the delivery of essential social services.

The significance of the ongoing consultation, therefore, goes beyond gathering suggestions for a single budget. It is obviously about creating a shared understanding of where Abia is coming from, where it is today and where it intends to be in the years ahead. With citizens, traditional rulers, civil society organisations, professional bodies, persons with disabilities and other stakeholders participating in the process, the government has created a platform for a broader conversation about the state’s development priorities.

The Otti administration remains committed to translating these contributions into a budget that is realistic, inclusive and capable of sustaining the momentum of the New Abia project. These priorities will surely reflect in the final budget and translated into tangible development outcomes. As Dr. Egwuibe aptly put it, “This is a new Abia.” The 2027 budget will offer another opportunity to make that new direction more enduring.