Yobe State governor, Alh. Mai Mala Buni has assured the people of the state that the 2025 Budget of his administration will provide the critical developmental needs of the state.
He stated this during the budget presentation to the state’s House of Assembly on Thursday.
9News Nigeria has reported earlier how the economic sector was given top priority in the state’s 2025 budget.
Tagged “Budget of Economic Consolidation and Poverty Reduction” the governor said the economic sector will continue to play a pivotal role in the state’s growth and socio-economic development.
The proposed budget of N320,811,000,000 with a specification that, the sum of N144bn, representing 44.9% is proposed as recurrent expenditure, while the sum of N176bn, representing 55.1% is allocated for capital expenditure.
Highlighting the breakdown, Governor Buni said his government would concentrate on four sectors, namely; Economic, Social, Administration, Law, Peace and Justice.
A sum of N156bn is allocated to cover capital and recurrent expenditure, while the Social Sector has been earmarked with N108bn for the funding of both its capital and recurrent expenditure.
The Administration sector which consists of the Government House, House of Assembly, Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Office of the Head of Service, Ministries of Home Affairs Information and Culture, Humanitarian Affairs, Religious Affairs and Ethical Re-orientation, State Independent Electoral Commission, Civil Service Commission, Local Government Service Commission, State and Local Government Auditors-General’s Offices, among others are to receive a proposal of N50.6bn while Law Peace and Justice will have total sum of N4.7bn respectively.
The governor also reviewed performances recorded from the 2024 budget, admitting that the unfavourable exchange rate of Naira to the Dollar, and the unabated inflation rate have continued to negatively impact on execution levels of projects and programmes.
However he said “In keeping with the well established tradition of linking our past and present with the future, l wish to give account of the major achievements recorded during the outgoing fiscal year before presenting the 2025 budget proposal.
“This Honourable House may recall that a total sum of Two-Hundred and Sixteen Billion, Nine-Hundred and Fifty Million Naira N216,950,000,000 was approved to finance both capital and recurrent expenditure for 2024 fiscal year.
“However, the actual revenue receipts from the Federation Account Allocation, Internally Generated Revenue and other sources including the State opening balance of accounts from January-September, 2024 stood at Two Hundred and Six Billion, Nine Hundred and Ninety-six Million, Five Hundred and Ninety-three Thousand, Eight Hundred and Thirty-three Naira (N206,996,593,833) implying 95.4% of the approved budget.
“Out of the sum of One-Hundred and Seven Billion, Four-Hundred and Thirteen Million, Forty-two Thousand Naira (N107,413,042,000) earmarked for recurrent expenditure in the 2024 Budget, the actual amount expended was Eighty-five Billion, Six-Hundred and Ninety-two Million, Nine-Hundred and Two Thousand, Three Hundred and Eighty Naira (N85,692,902,380) representing 79.8% success as at 30th September, 2024.
“The sum of One-Hundred and Nine Billion, Five-Hundred and Thirty-six Million, Nine-Hundred and Fifty-eight Thousand Naira (N109,536,958,000) was allocated for capital expenditure. However, the sum of Seventy-Nine Billion, Two-Hundred and Fifty-Six Million, Four-Hundred and sixty-Two Thousand, Five-Hundred and Fifty-Four Naira (N79,256,462,554) was the actual expenditure indicating 72.4% success.
“The overall performance of the 2024 budget for both recurrent and capital expenditure was One-Hundred and Sixty-four Billion, Nine-Hundred and Forty-Nine Million, Three-Hundred and Sixty-four Thousand, Nine Hundred and Thirty-four Naira (N164,949,364,934) indicating 76% success as of 30th September 2024. The volume of both the revenue and expenditure is expected to rise before the end of the year.
More so, a sum of N17.4bn was released to fund the construction of Nguru-Bulanguwa, Bulanguwa-Kumagannam, Kukuri-Chikuriwa-Dawasa, Jaji Maji-Karasuwa, Garin Guna, Gashua-Masaba, Chumbusko-Tagali and Chumbusko-Karasuwa Galu roads, and the dualization of the Damaturu to Kalallawa road.
“Government would next year award contract for the remaining part of the Trans-Sahara road to complete linkage of the entire northern part of the state from Nguru-Kanamma.
“Similarly, Government would construct access roads to link all the political wards in the respective local government areas.
“Others are the construction of Garin Bingel-Danchuwa road which has been completed, the ongoing Bukarti-Toshiya, Fika-Maluri, and Danchuwa-Jajere, Kanamma Junction-Yusufari, Gujba-Ngalda, as well as the rehabilitation of Geidam-Bukarti, and Damaturu-Gujba roads,” he said.
He added that the amount also covers expenditure for the construction of the four Damaturu City Gates, township roads and drainages in Ten Local Government Council Headquarters across the state, as well as erosion control along Gadaka road, among others.
Responding on behalf of the lawmakers, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Buba Chiroma-Mashio promised to carefully study the budget appropriately for further legislative action with a view to give speedy passage into law.
He commended the governor for prudent management of the 2024 budget in completing ongoing projects such as roads and other critical infrastructures.
The Speaker also commended the State Government and the oversight functions played by various House Committees in transforming the Education, Healthcare, and other sectors in the state
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