By Ndahi Marama, Damaturu

Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe state has presented a proposed budget of N320,811,000,000 billion to the State House of Assembly for administrative plans and consideration, and to transparently implement capital, recurrent, overhead and personnel costs for the 2025 fiscal year.

In this year 2024, a total sum of N216.950 billion only was earmarked, which indicated a slight increase of about N103.861 billion in the forthcoming year.

While presenting the Appropriation Bill to the members of the assembly led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Buba Chiroma-Mashio at the floor of the House on Thursday, Governor Buni said, the Finance and Appropriation bills before the State House of Assembly is in pursuance of section 121, sub-section (1) 2 of the 1999 Constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

He tagged the 2025 Budget as the ‘BUDGET OF ECONOMIC CONSOLIDATION AND POVERTY REDUCTION’, with a specification that, the sum of One Hundred Forty-four Billion, Thirty-six Million, Seven Hundred and Eighty-seven Thousand (N144,036,787,000) representing 44.9% is proposed as recurrent expenditure, while the sum of One Hundred and Seventy-Six Billion, Seven Hundred and Seventy-Four Million, Two Hundred and Thirteen Thousand Naira (N176,774,213,000) representing 55.1% is allocated for capital expenditure.

Highlighting the breakdown, Buni said, Government would concentrate on four sectors, namely; Economic, Social, Administration, Law, Peace and Justice.

“The Economic sector would continue to play its pivotal role in our speedy growth and socio-economic development agenda for the State. A total sum of One Hundred and Fifty-six Billion, Nine Hundred and Thirty-one Million, Eight Hundred and Eighteen Thousand Naira (N156,931,818,000) is allocated to cover capital and recurrent expenditure, while the Social sector has been earmarked with a total sum of One Hundred and Eight Billion, Four Hundred and Sixty-nine Million, Three Hundred and Sixty-six Thousand Naira (N108,469,366,000) for the funding of both its capital and recurrent expenditure.

“Likewise, 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, Ministry of Home Affairs Information and Culture, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Ministry of 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 Fifty Billion, Six Hundred and Forty-four Million, Nine Hundred and Seventy-one Thousand Naira (N50,644,971,000), while Law Peace and Justice will have total sum of Four Billion, Seven Hundred and Sixty-four million, Eight Hundred and Forty-five Thousand Naira (N4,764,845,000) respectively”. Buni stated.

The Governor who also reviewed performances recorded from the 2024 budget, admitted 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 total sum of Seventeen Billion, Four-Hundred and Eighty-seven Million, Six-Hundred and Seventy-two Thousand, Eight Hundred and Seventy-four Naira, Twenty kobo N17,487,672,874.20) 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. 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”. He added.

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