Governor Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa state has presented the sum of over 178 billion naira before the state house of sssembly as an appropriation bill for the 2023 fiscal year.
The budget which is tagged “Budget of Consolidation for Sustainable Socio-economic Development – II” is slightly over the 2022 original budget by only about 0.4%.
However, taking into account the supplementary appropriations of 279 billion naira, the 2023 proposed budget is less than the total appropriations for 2022 by almost 10%.
Governor Badaru further explained that, over 56 billion naira is allocated to personnel cost, 89 point 4 billion naira earmarked for capital investments which are about half of the total proposed budget.
According to him, about forty three billion naira was allocated for overheads and other recurrent expenditures meant to take care of routine operations of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies and other major recurrent expenditure.
He pointed out that, the proposed budget for education and health sectors amounted to about 61 point 2 billion naira and 28 point billion naira respectively.
Badaru said, these correspond to about 34.3% and 16.2% of the total proposed estimates respectively and have surpassed the requisite benchmarks as recommended by UNESCO Education for all Initiatives and the African Union Abuja Health Declaration of 2001.
The Governor however commended the state Assembly for their efforts in achieving almost 80% 2022 budget performance.
He urged the assembly to consider speedy passage of the appropriation bill for the services of the state.
He expressed appreciation for the existing harmony between the executive and legislative arms of government which allowed them to effectively work together in meeting the yearnings and aspirations of the people of Jigawa state.
Alhaji Badaru Abubakar added that, they were able to surpass their target of at least one-village-one-project initiative during the first four years of their administration , through the contributions of the various constituency projects incorporated into the annual budgets as facilitated by the members.
The Speaker state house of assembly, Alhaji Idris Garba Jahun assured quick scrutiny and passage of the budget before the end of December 2022.
Radio Nigeria reports that, the budget presentation was attended by Emirs of the 5 emirates in the state among others.
Usman Mohammed Zaria