By Wole Mosadomi

MINNA—NIGER State Governor, Abubakar   Sani   Bello, yesterday, presented a budget of N128 billion  budget for 2018 fiscal year to the state house of assembly.

It is N16 billion or 16.62 per cent higher than that of 2016.

Naira

The Governor, while presenting the estimate before the   Niger State House of Assembly, in Minna, yesterday, christened, “the   peoples budget,” which he said was aimed at “reconnecting with the ordinary citizens.”

He said: “The   state   government   decided   to hike   the 2018 budget from that of last year, which was N109 bilion, because of the relative peace in the Niger Delta and the upward swing in the oil price in the   international market, with the fact that the country is technically out of recession.”

While giving the breakdown, the Governor said recurrent   expenditure   would gulp over  N52 billion, representing about 40.7 per cent of the total revenue   projection, while capital project would cost  over N75 billion, representing about 59.8 percent of the budget.

Bello said the budget would be financed through   statutory allocations, which would account for about 57.6 billion expected  as capital  receipt; value   added tax, to contribute over N9 billion, Paris refund, to fund over   N10 billion and internally  generated revenue, which would cover over   N11 billion of the budget estimate.

Other sources of funding the budget include,  cash   receipt of N35 billion and Pension reduction to cover over N10 billion .

Highlighting   the budget, the Governor   disclosed   that   the state   government   would spend N44 billion  on the    Economic  sector, with   Agriculture   receiving  top priority as the administration would ensure   that 200 hectares   of land   would   be   cleared   for the State   accelerated Agriculture   scheme aimed at upgrading of   farm centres   at Tegina, Gwada and Nasko with modern   farming implements.

“Under the agricultural empowerment programme, the Tegina, kuta, Nasko and Bida farm Institutes will be equipped to better train our youths on modern farming methods,” the Governor remarked.

.On Education, the Governor said,”our tertiary Institutions will receive attention to meet accreditation requirements. The renovation of six Vocational, Science and Technical schools in Bida, Suleja, Kontagora, Jebba, Rijau and Minna will be given priority and will gulp N2.5 billion.”

He also said that Science equipments would  be provided to these Schools at a cost of N100million the year under review.