By Johnpaul Anih, Ph.D
When Hon. John Ogbodo rose before the Nkanu West Legislative Council on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, he was not just presenting figures on paper.
He was unveiling a carefully stitched mosaic of intentions, projects and promises. The ₦8.22 billion “Budget of Sustainability” was designed to steady the present while preparing the ground for the future.
It read less like a routine financial ritual and more like a statement of intent. Tagged “Budget of Sustainability,” the ₦8.22 billion proposal reflects an administration more concerned with consolidating what exists than chasing headlines.
Addressing councillors, the chairman traced much of the council’s progress to the absence of interference in local government finances, a situation he said has allowed the council to plan and execute projects without unnecessary disruption.
Across several communities, that freedom has translated into access to clean water. Solar-powered boreholes have been completed in areas such as Ọnụeke Ọnọwọ, Igwenchi, Ọnụeke Aniugbọ, Amuzam, Onuvu-Echara, Anichi, Onuogba and Agudene.
Similar facilities have also been provided in 12 schools across the local government, easing daily routines for pupils and teachers.
At Agbani General Hospital, the intervention went beyond water provision. According to the chairman, broader service needs were addressed to improve the hospital’s capacity to serve surrounding communities.
It was one of several examples cited to show how projects were designed to solve practical problems rather than merely tick boxes.
Other completed and ongoing works include the refurbishment of the local government administrative block, the construction of a double bungalow for the Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Agbani, improved waste management through refuse evacuation and bin distribution, modern market facilities, public conveniences and a meat processing facility.
Road infrastructure also featured prominently, with Smart School link roads complete with drainage and culverts under construction, alongside ongoing rural road projects aimed at improving connectivity across the council area.
In the health sector, counterpart funding for Type-2 health centres has been consistently released across all 14 wards.
Agricultural interventions include a 200-hectare smart farm nearing completion in Amurri and Akpugo wards, as well as the distribution of fertilisers and other farm inputs to local farmers.
Reacting to the presentation, the Leader of the Legislative Council described the budget as realistic and people-oriented, assuring that it would receive diligent consideration and timely passage.
His remarks reflected a shared resolve between the executive and the legislature to prioritise the interests of the people.
For Chairman Ogbodo, the budget is more than an annual ritual. It is a compass guided by clear policy priorities: infrastructure development, improved healthcare delivery, education through Green Smart Schools, aggressive internal revenue generation, environmental sustainability and an unflinching commitment to transparency and accountability.
In formally laying the budget before the council, he reaffirmed his belief that prudent financial management is not an abstract principle but a daily discipline.
As Nkanu West awaits its passage and assent, the ₦8.22bn budget reads as more than a balance sheet.
It reflects a clear sense of purpose and underscores the idea that when leadership remains people-focused, development shifts from rhetoric to reality.
