*Borno’s Ministry of RRR gets N13bn

By Aliyu Dangida, Indahi Marama &  Suzan Edeh

GOVERNORS Kashim Shettima, Badaru Abubakar and Mohammed Abubakar of Borno, Jigawa and Bauchi states, respectively, presented 2017 budget proposals to their respective state assemblies for approval, yesterday.

Gov. Shetima

Governor Shettima of Borno presented a budget of N183.8 billion; Governor Abubakar, Jigawa, N127.87 billion; and Governor Abubakar, Bauchi, N145.45 billion.

Governor Shettima described the Appropriation Bill as budget for Consolidating, Restoration and Rebirth, saying it was 15.37 percent higher than that of 2016.

“This is because the assumptions and expectations of the economic performance this year, as rationally thought out, are more favourable,” he said.

Shettima said the budget would be financed from envisaged internally generated revenue, IGR, of N29.2 billion and allocation from the Federation Account of N117 billion.

He said: “The capital expenditure is put at N124.1 billion, while the recurrent expenditure is put at N59.6 billion. The 2017 budget size is more than that of 2016, including virement and special warrant, by N24.4 billion.

Focus on 3Rs
“This year’s budget was purposely designed to actively pursue the strategic policy initiatives of the state government in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the thousands of structures destroyed by the insurgents and the ultimate return of all our internally-displaced persons, IDPs, to their respective homes, latest by May 2017.

“In view of this, N13 billion is allocated to the Ministry of Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Resettlement, RRR, to continue with the massive reconstruction and rehabilitation of towns and villages and all critical infrastructure in the liberated local government areas for gradual return and resettlement of all IDPs.”

Shettima said about N24.5 billion was earmarked for the education sector, meant for rehabilitation of facilities at secondary and tertiary level.

He added: “Agricultural sector is allocated N7 billion to provide the enabling environment for food production, maintenance of plantation sites and introduction of new crop varieties to our farmers.

“N19.5 billion was allocated for the the health sector to enable them provide effective health care services. The amount would also cover reconstruction and rehabilitation of all destroyed hospitals and health centres in all the local government areas across the state.”

Jigawa
In Jigawa, Governor Badaru Abubakar, while presenting N127.87 billion budget proposal to the state Assembly, said the proposed appropriation bill, tagged Budget of Economic Diversification and Self-sufficiency, would be based on the consolidated position of the revenue projections within the next year.

He said the budget proposal was seven per cent below the 2016.

According to Abubakar, taking into account the N800 million set aside for “stabilisation and contingency funds, we have a total retained revenue of N127.07 billion shared among the recurrent and capital expenditure components.”

60% for capital projects in Bauchi
Similarly, Governor Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi said the state budget proposal of N145.45 billion, christened Budget of Sustainable Development, was made up of recurrent expenditure of N58.85 billion and capital expenditure of N86.60 billion.

He said about 60 percent of the expected revenue would be expended on capital projects, as government intended fast-tracking its efforts in providing infrastructure to the people of the state in the coming year.

He said other areas to be given priority in the incoming year included health, agriculture, education and water supply sectors as well as youth and women empowerment.
Abubakar explained that considering the current national and global economic recession, transparency and accountability would be enforced in all fiscal transactions.

He recounted the economic challenges faced in the previous years that forced government into taking measures such as reducing the number of ministries, verification of civil servants and the placing of embargo on employment, among others.

According to him, government will continue to introduce policies that will help boost IGR and also cut cost of administration.

“In spite of the challenges, we are determined to move the state forward,” he assured, and called on the people of the state to contribute their quota towards achieving the set goal.
Abubakar also urged the state Assembly to expedite action on its passage to enable implementation to commence in earnest.