Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers on Monday in Port Harcourt presented the 2019 Appropriation Bill of N480.42 billion to the State House of Assembly for consideration and subsequent approval.
Wike said that the estimate, tagged “Budget for Economic Growth and Sustainable Development,” was made up of N323.29 billion (65 per cent) capital expenditure and N157.12 billion (35 per cent) recurrent expenditure.
The governor said that the budget was N57.70 billion less than the 2018 figure, adding that N33 billion had been proposed for pensions and gratuities.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), report that the 2018 budget for the state is about N510 billion.
He said that the challenge about the plight of pensioners had lingered for too long and promised to tackle it in the coming year.
“Certainly, our senior citizens deserve better treatment than what they are presently getting,” he said.
He said that the budget would be funded from allocations from the Federal Account, Value Added Tax (VAT) and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
Wike said the estimate was also premised on an oil price benchmark of 55 US dollars per barrel, five dollars lower than the Federal Government benchmark.
The governor said it was also based on the assumption of an oil production rate of two million barrels per day and an inflation rate of 10.9 per cent.
Wike said that the 2019 budget prioritised human capital and infrastructure development, adding that it would continue to strengthen the state economy, create jobs and complete ongoing projects.
He said that a substantial part of the capital budget was allocated to the Ministries of Agriculture, Education, Employment Generation, Empowerment, Health, Sports Development, Women Affairs, Works, and Youth Development
“It is clear by these estimates that the 2019 budget is aimed at promoting economic growth, creating jobs, tackling unemployment, taking our people out of poverty and improving their living standards,”.
On the N30,000 new minimum wage, Wike said he would implement the new wage as soon as the Federal Government reviewed resource allocation formula for states.
Responding, the Speaker, Mr Ikunyi-awaji Ibani, commended the governor for presenting “a people-oriented” budget and promised speedy consideration and approval by the house.
BORNO GETS N125.82B 2019 BUDGET PROPOSAL
Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno on Monday presented a N125.82 billion appropriation bill for the 2019 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly for approval.
The bill tagged: “Budget of Consolidation” was higher than the 2018 approved budget, with over 30 per cent increase.
Shettima disclosed that N61 billion of the total budget was allocated for capital projects and N63 billion for recurrent expenditure.
He explained that the increased allocation for recurrent expenditure was for the projects initiated in 2018 that were at various stages of completion and to facilitate payment of pension arrears.
Shwttima revealed that the budget would be financed with projected N17 billion Internally Generated Revenue (IGR); N86 billion statutory allocations and N21 billion capital receipt.
He added that education got the highest allocation of N22 billion for recurrent and capital projects, which included N9 billion for completion of various school development projects and N8 billion for higher education.
He said that N2 billion was earmarked for Universal Basic Education (UBE) programmes, to facilitate procurement of instructional materials and furniture, while another N2 billion was allocated for the 44 Mega School projects.
Other highlights of the budget included the allocation N15.16 billion for the health sector, to fast track completion of various health facility projects, provisions of medical equipment, drugs and recruitment of personnel.
Agriculture was allocated N3.9 billion for completion of irrigation projects, farmer support services and procurement of farm inputs.
Over N4 billion was allocated for the Ministry of Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Resettlement to facilitate resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in liberated communities.
Shettima added that the Ministry of Works got N7 billion for completion of road, landscaping and street lightening projects in Maiduguri, Damboa, Jere and Gamboro-Ngala local government areas among others.
The sum of N3.14 billion was earmarked for the Borno Road Maintenance Agency (BORMA); N5.36 billion for Water Resources, while Animal and Fishery Development got N2.01 billion, Land and Survey N1.3 billion, and Environment N3.4 billion.
Shettima said that the sum of N1.8 billion was provided for poverty alleviation programme to accelerate livelihood and empowerment support services to women and youths affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.
He announced the allocation of N1.7 billion to the Ministry of Religious Affairs and another N4.9 billion for the Teacher Service Board (TSB), noting that the amount were provided to enhance integration of Tsangaya School, establishment of vocational training centres for the Tsangaya schools and recruitment of 1,000 graduate teachers under the TSB.
The governor added that N3.98 billion was earmarked for the Ministry of Housing and Energy and another N1.64 for the Ministry of Home Affairs, Information and Culture.
He further disclosed that over N18 billion was allocated to the Governor’s Office to facilitate implementation of various projects under the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Head of Service (HoS).
Breaking down the figures, Shettima explained that N11 billion of the amount was provided for the Mega School projects, procurement of instructional materials, furniture, beddings and feeding in the schools.
Shettima added that N1.8 billion was earmarked for the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and procurement of security kits; over N1 billion for the completion of Borno House in Abuja, N500 million for remuneration of political aids and N100 million for the payment of allowances to the NYSC members.
According to him, over N3.3 billion was allocated to the State House of Assembly and N1.4 billion for the Ministry of Justice.
While commending the legislators over their support to his administration, Shettima urged them to expedite action on the bill, to fast track social and economic development of the state.
Also, the Speaker, Alhaji Abdulkareem Lawan, lauded the governor over the feat achieved in social and economic transformation despite the security challenges facing the state.
Lawan noted that the state government had recorded significant successes in budget implementation and execution of viable projects for the overall well being of the people.
He assured that the legislators would accord the bill speedy passage to ensure sustainability of the development projects implemented in the previous budgets.
TARABA GETS N146.73B APPROPRIATION BILL FOR 2019
Gov. Darius Ishaku on Monday presented the 2019 budget estimates of N146.73 billion to the Taraba State House of Assembly for consideration.
Presenting the budget at the State Assembly Complex in Jalingo, Gov. Ishaku said the budget estimates was to consolidate on his achievements in the past years.
The budget estimate has a capital expenditure of N72.8billion, representing 49.86 per cent and a recurrent expenditure of N73.24billion, representing 50.14 per cent.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 2019 budget estimates of N146.73bn is 12.73 per cent higher than 2018 budget of N129billion, including a N25 billion supplementary budget later passed by the Assembly.
Ministry of Works and Housing took the lion share of N18.2billion, while that of Environment has the least with N944million.
Ishaku, while commending the state legislators for the support and the cordial working relationship between the Executive and the Legislature, pledged accountability and sustainability in the implementation of the budget for the good of the state.
Earlier, Mr Abel Diah, the Speaker, commended the governor for the achievements so far recorded in areas of agriculture, health, education and infrastructure.
He commended the governor for bringing governance closer to the people by appointing second class and third class Chiefs which had helped in addressing the security challenges facing the state.
On the forthcoming elections, the Speaker called on politicians to play by the rules, eschew violence and be mindful of their utterances during the campaigns so as to have peaceful elections.
GOMBE EARMARKS N13.2B FOR WORKS, INFRASTRUCTURE
Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State has earmarked N13.2 billion for works and infrastructure development in the 2019 fiscal year.
Dankwambo stated this while presenting the 2019 budget on Monday in Gombe.
The Governor said the State Government had constructed over 1,575 kilometres of roads across the state with bridges and culverts.
He said the efforts were geared toward providing conducive environment for people to undertake their socio-economic activities with ease and to attract prospective investors to the state.
“In this regard, we have instructed the Ministry of Economic Planning to prepare a 30-year State Integrated Infrastructure Master plan.
“The plan will take stock of present state of infrastructure this administration met on the ground in 2011 and our modest efforts of developing more infrastructure in the state to guide successive governments,” he said.
The governor said the state of physical infrastructure he met in 2011 was very challenging.
He said the challenge prompted him to open up the state, through the construction of access roads for ease of movement of people, goods and services.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Dankwambo presented a budget of N118.7 billion for 2019 fiscal year tagged: ‘Budget of posterity to the state’, House of Assembly.
KOGI GOV PRESENTS N146.7B APPROPRIATION BILL 2019
Governor Yahaya Bello on Monday presented a budget estimate of N146.736 billion for 2019 to Kogi House of Assembly for scrutiny and approval.
Bello said the budget was made up of N71.841 billion for Recurrent Expenditure, which represented 48.96 per cent while Capital Expenditure would gulp N74.894 billion, which represented 51.04 per cent.
The governor said the bill tagged, “Budget of Consolidation”, was N4.941 billion or 3.26 per cent lower than the N151.677 billion for 2018.
Bello said that the budget would help to consolidate on the administration’s achievements in the last three years, especially in the completion and commissioning of key infrastructure projects and others.
“Above all, it will assist in complying with the principles stated in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) as well as the Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) approved by this Honourable House,” he said.
The governor said the 2018 budget recorded 51.63 per cent performance.
Speaker of the House, Prince Matthew Kolawole, reiterated that budget was an important policy tool for both the legislature and executive to drive development.
Kolawole pledged the continued support of the House to the executive and assured that the bill would be passed soon.
SOKOTO ASSEMBLY APPROVES N5.1B FACILITIES FOR TAMBUWAL
The Sokoto state House of Assembly on Monday approved Gov. Aminu Tambuwal request to access N5.1 billion banking facilities for counterpart funding.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the approval followed the consideration of a letter to the Assembly by the governor and presented by the Speaker, Alhaji Salihu Maidaji.
Tambuwal in the letter formally informed the Assembly of government’s desire to meet its obligations with some development partners and agencies.
“These obligations are in relation to providing counterpart funding to allow the state participate fully in the programmes outlined by our partners.
“In view of the importance of this partnership, we would appreciate a House resolution which will allow government to access facilities offered by the banks on term and conditions very favourable and considerate.
“N2 billion UBA facility with 12 months repayment period for the state sponsored counterpart funding for SDGs programme.
“N2 billion Zenith Bank facility with 24 months repayment period finance counterparts contribution in respect of Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP), Youth empowerment programme and Social Development Agency (CSDA).
“N600 million and N500 million from Fidelity Bank for development project across the state and to finance recurrent expenditure respectively, with seven months repayment period,” it said.
The members unanimously accepted the request in a voice vote by the speaker.
