Concerns have been expressed by Chief Ude Livinus following the signing of Enugu State’s ₦1.62 trillion 2026 budget by Governor Peter Mbah.

Official budget documents project ₦870 billion in Internally Generated Revenue for the 2026 fiscal year. Government officials have also cited daily revenue inflows of approximately ₦2.5 billion.

Livinus referenced existing liabilities, stating that the state currently owes over ₦36 billion in pensions and gratuities, in addition to about ₦40 billion owed to contractors.

He also highlighted statements by revenue authorities indicating that about ₦400 billion was generated by the end of 2025, drawing attention to the increase reflected in the new fiscal projections.

The expenditure framework of the budget includes ₦30 billion for school feeding programmes in smart schools and ₦135.5 billion allocated for rail infrastructure.

Other planned expenditures include the acquisition of 14 aircraft, development of Enugu New City, construction of 260 smart schools, 260 hospitals, and road projects exceeding 1,000 across the state.

The appropriation was passed by the Enugu State House of Assembly and assented to by the governor. No comprehensive public explanation has yet been provided regarding the revenue assumptions underpinning the budget.