By Mohammed Suleiman, Dutse.
Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State has presented appropriation bill of N298.14b for 2024 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly for consideration.
Presenting the budget, during the State Assembly plenary session held at the floor of the Jigawa State House of Assembly on Tuesday, Governor Namadi stated that the budget has an estimated value of 298.14 billion naira, which is almost 23% higher than the total appropriations in the outgoing 2023 Fiscal Year.
According to him, the budget tagged “Budget For A Greater Jigawa,” is in line with the principles of fiscal responsibility.
the sum of 10.72 billion naira has been earmarked for stabilization and contingency funds, which is equivalent to about 4% of the real recurrent revenue estimates.
He said the sum of over 111 billion naira, representing about 37% of the total budget, was earmarked for recurrent expenditures, while the balance of about 175.44 billion naira, representing almost 59%, is allocated to capital investments.
Malam Umar Namadi further explained that the proposed 2024 budget includes provisions for new government agencies to be established from now to the end of the first quarter of 2024.
These agencies include the State ICT & Digital Economy Agency, the State Hisbah, Tsangaya, Resident Identity Management, and the State Anti-corruption Agencies.
He said the proposed allocation to the health and education sectors is about 131.8 billion naira, which is more than two-fifths of the total budget, underscoring the priority they attach to human capital development, Empowerment Programme, agricultural, rural transformation, and ICT development.
The Governor urged the Members of the State House of Assembly to give the appropriation bills in respect of the state and local governments a speedy passage for the overall interest of the people and jigawa state.
Namadi assured Members of the Jigawa state House of Assembly and the people of the state, of their commitment to implement the budget with utmost fiscal discipline, transparency, and
accountability.
The breakdown of the major sources of income from which the proposed 2024 budget would be financed is provided as follows: Federal Transfers including Statutory Allocation, Value Added Tax
and Other Payments from the Federation Account N107.5 billon
Other Recurrent Incomes including IGR, Local Govt. Reimbursements for Teachers & PHC Staff Salaries, and Federal Reimbursement for State Revenue such as Stamp Duty Refunds
N91.225 billion.
Receiving the budget document on the floor of the House, the Speaker, Hon. Haruna Isyaku Aliyu Dangyatin promised to give the budget a speedy passage.