Unemployment rate in Anambra is among the highest in the South-east zone, at 21.3 per cent, it is higher than the national average of 21.1 per cent. Imo’s unemployment rate is 29.9 per cent and Enugu is 15 per cent. The state has tried to reduce unemployment through its Anambra Integrated Development Strategy (ANIDS) and the Anambra Youth Reorientation and Empowerment Program (ANSYREP), but the problem with these programmes is that they contribute very little to the production base of the state.

The incidence of poverty in the state is very high – actually disappointing. The South-east has a food poor incidence of 41.0 per cent of which 60.9 per cent is absolutely poor, while 66.5 per cent is relatively poor and 56.8 per cent live under a dollar a day. Anambra has a poverty index of 22.8 per cent, the third highest in the zone, and shares the sixth lowest position in Nigeria with Rivers State which also has 22.8 per cent. About 47.6 per cent of the state’s population is core poor, 45.0 per cent is moderately poor and only 7.4 per cent of the state’s population is classified as none poor. Income inequality as measured by changes in Gini co-efficient between 2003 and 2010 increased slightly by 7.6 per cent as against 18.1 per cent for Ebonyi and Enugu States 7.5 per cent increase.

The people of Anambra State are known to be brilliant, enterprising and resourceful. Most of Nigera's brightest professors, writers, public servants and politicians hailed from the state. One would expect that given this enterprising spirit, the state would create conditions conducive to innovation, business and development. This is not the case, out of the five South-eastern states, Anambra has the fourth lowest ranking for ease of doing business; it was at a distant 35th position out of the 36 states and FCT in 2010. Starting a business involves nine procedures that may span 39 days. Enugu with the best doing business ranking in the zone, takes the 30th position of the 36 states, while Imo is ranked 36, as the most difficult state to do business both in the South-east and nationally.

The 2012 budget for the state is N82.5 billion as against N66.9 billion in 2011, representing a 23.2 per cent increase. N46.8 billion (57%) is apportioned for capital expenditure, and N35.7 billion (43%) is for recurrent expenditure. Analysing the recurrent budget further, N9.2 billion or (26%) is set aside for Consolidated Revenue Fund Charges, N16.3 billion (45%) for personnel costs, N7.4 billion (21%) for overhead costs and N2.8 billion (8%) as subvention to parastatals/ tertiary institutions. Anambra’s total IGR for 2012 is projected at N12 billion, the same figure as was projected in 2011. This means, while its expenditure has increased, the state has not enhanced its capacity to collect or expand its tax base.

The two major contributors to IGR in 2012 will be N6.7 billion from taxes and about N4 billion from fines and fees. If this IGR is measured against the states projected personnel costs of N16.3 billion, Anambra cannot pay its staff salaries without reliance on federal allocation; this means it is one of those ‘dependent’ states and is not economically viable for independent existence.
The 2012 budget will be funded by projected capital receipts of N47 billion, N12 billion as IGR and N36 billion as FAAC allocations, bringing total revenues to N95 billion, out of which N12.3 billion would be transferred to Capital Development Fund. In sectoral terms, N28.2 billion (34.2%) is allocated to the economic sector, N24.2 billion (29.4%) to the social sector, N9.7 billion (11.82%) for the environmental sector and N20.2 billion (24.52%) for general administration.

The education sub sector is allocated N10.99 billion. The state has a longstanding reputation of being an educationally advanced state: it has at least nine institutions of higher learning, its literacy rate is comparatively high, in a 2010 NBS literacy survey, youth literacy in the state was said to be 92.9 per cent and adult literacy at 74.0%. However, compared to its South-east neighbours, the state has the third lowest adult literacy amongst the five states, Abia has 78.2 per cent, Imo 80.8 per cent, Enugu with 64.6 per cent and Ebonyi with 69.8 per cent. This means that in education terms, Anambra is performing poorer than most other states in its region. From this regional perspective, it means investment in education urgently needs attention and ought to be ramped up.

A meagre N1.4 billion is budgeted for health, and considering that health should be the core focus of any state government, this amount is barely adequate. From this sum, it is evident that the government has misplaced priorities, apportioning only 1.7 per cent of the entire budget to a sector that directly affects the livelihood of all of its populace.

Agriculture is apportioned N1.4 billion, an evidence of misplaced priorities: with figures like these, it is no surprise that unemployment in the state is high. How can a state government allocate only 1.7 per cent of its entire budget to agriculture in a rural state? Unemployment can be tackled effectively with agriculture if the value chain challenges in food and cash crops production are tackled.

The housing sub sector will get N1.8 billion, the government plans to partner the private sector in providing more residential accommodation, a core focus will be on completing all existing projects. This is commendable.

It is an insult to the Igbo race to openly or even remotely suggest that any part of Igbo land is the poorest in the country. This negates our resourcefulness and ingenuity as a people.

“Honestly, I do not know what propels him or what interest he is protecting. We need people to help to assess and validate what we’re doing. We’re on course and we’re doing the right things

29 of such women who displayed their children as strategy for getting alms have already been arrested in Awka and Onitsha, and repatriated to their home states; Ebonyi and Akwa Ibom states.

The state commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr. Ego Cordelia Uzoezie, disclosed Friday in Awka when a middle-aged woman was arrested for begging with nine children at various points in Awka.

FreeGlobe: It seems these people never learn, I return to nairaland today to register a disappoint and a lunatic is brandishing a baseless economic report from a non economist for me to deliberate on? wth?

The Anambra state government has issued a warning to all street beggars, especially children used by their parents to beg for alms, to vacate the streets or be arrested.

[size=18pt]29 of such women who displayed their children as strategy for getting alms have already been arrested in Awka and Onitsha, and repatriated to their home states; Ebonyi and Akwa Ibom states.[/size]

The state commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr. Ego Cordelia Uzoezie, disclosed Friday in Awka when a middle-aged woman was arrested for begging with nine children at various points in Awka.

Uzoezie said her attention was drawn to the spectacle when one of the children who begged at the Unizik junction, Awka, six-year-old Goodnews Sunday, was hit in the jaw by an Okada rider, while he begged.

Uzoezie decried the attitude of some parents who used their children to beg for alms, and warned that after 72 hours any beggar seen in the state would be arrested by the law enforcement agents and the special task force of the ministry of women affairs and social development.

Prof Corruption: [size=18pt]Hypocrites: Do as I say but ignore my actions! Where were you when Obi deported beggars in 2011?[/size]

FreeGlobe:
Obi did not deport. Fashola deported. Obi stopped the abuse of child rights by stopping parents from using kids for labor. Fashola like a thief deported and abandoned kids by 2:00AM

FreeGlobe: Fashola Must pay for this wickedness. Instead of focusing on rechanneling Lagos IGR out of thiefnubus pockets, primitive fashola who spends most of his time on nairaland is interested in playing the tribe game. And Lagos is still a hellhole

Prof Corruption:

Hypocrite, read this again. It's now bigger.

[size=28pt]repatriated to their home states; Ebonyi and Akwa Ibom states.[/size]

Prof Corruption:

I laughed at the bolded. If Fasola must pay for this "wickedness", what should we do to Obi for his "goodness" in 2011?

FreeGlobe:
Guilty conscience. There is a difference between: Punishment for Child Labor (refer to your bolded) and detaining and deporting kids by 2:00am

Prof Corruption:

Freebigot and Freehypocrite, you have ended out exposing yourself as the bigot you aim to label others. Guilty of same offence you accuse others of committing.

Punishment for Child Labor is to move them to their home states but doing same for nuisance, insanity is "guilty conscience". Sometimes I wonder who have done this to you: the whole world is always against you when no one really cares.
When you do it, it must be for a good reason. When others do it, it is aim at you. They are tribalists, bigots, wicked and evil doer.

But when you do it, it's done in national interest. You are nationalists, intelligent, detribalised.

FreeGlobe, take a very big mirror and you see a cool picture of a bigot.

FreeGlobe:
Hey, no need for emotions. We don't condone child labor in igboland and you can confirm those children abusers were repatriated and even if they were, it was done with utmost courtesy and respect, the reason there was no outcry. They must have been handed over directly to their governments, something we expect of a SAN (human rights is law)

MAHSSOBs: Ibos are doomed. Will Ijaws save Ibos?

The attention of the Commissioner was drawn to the beggar, when one of the kids begging at Nnamdi Azikiwe University junction, six-year old, Goodnews Sunday, was hit by an Okada operator while begging and injuring her jaw in the process.

The child was later taken to Beacon Hospital Awka, for first aid after two hospitals turned her down for reasons which could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report.

Uzoezie decried the attitude of some parents, who, she said, were indulging “in using children to beg,”


Similarly, the Director, Child Development , Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development , Mr Emeka Ejide, also warned the beggars “to leave their children, alone, and beg if they choose to, as the interest of the ministry and Anambra state government are on the children.”


Children were returned home. Adults are free to live within the state. Anambra State is Home for All including you my friend!

Prof Corruption:

Freebigot and Freehypocrite, you have ended up exposing yourself as the bigot you aim to label others. Guilty of same offence you accuse others of committing.

Punishment for Child Labor is to move them to their home states but doing same for nuisance, insanity is "guilty conscience". Sometimes I wonder who have done this to you: the whole world is always against you when no one really cares.
When you do it, it must be for a good reason. When others do it, it is aim at you. They are tribalists, bigots, wicked and evil doer.

But when you do it, it's done in national interest. You are nationalists, intelligent, detribalised.

FreeGlobe, take a very big mirror and you see a cool picture of a bigot.

FreeGlobe: where is Obi deporting those Anambra born child laborer and their parents to? is he killing or detaining them in his bid to build a modern Anambra?