Niger Presents N238bn Appropriation Bill to State House of Assembly.
By: Yahaya Zakka Minna.
Niger State Governor,Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has presented N238,924,457,782.47 Appropriation Bill 2023,tagged Budget of Consolidation and Transition before the State House of Assembly Minna.
The Governor in his last budget presentation of his administration as Governor of Niger state said the fiscal estimate is designed to consolidate his past achievements in moving the state forward and called on the incoming administration to seriously explore the abundant opportunities available in agriculture, tourism, and mineral resources to boost the state’s internally generated revenue.
The 2023 budget, which is 2.96percent higher than the 2022 appropriation, is made up of N91,044,745,351.31 or 38.11 percent recurrent expenditure while N147,879,712,431.16 or 61.89 percent is proposed for capital expenditure.
Governor Sani Bello explaine that the proposed budget is expected to be financed by the Statutory Allocation of N61,094,737,097.00 representing 25.57 percent, Value Added Tax (VAT) of N35,616,260,802.00 or 14.90 percent, Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of N22,519,483,986.00 or 9.43 percent, Excess Crude/Other Revenue of N4,257,726,144 or 1.78 percent and Capital Receipts of N115,436,249,753.47 or 48.30 percent.
He emphasizes on the need to look inward to grow the state’s economy, the governor reiterated the necessity for the review of its IGR, stressing that attention would be given to infrastructural development to attract private sector investment to enhance earnings.
Sani Bello stressed that, the economic sector has the highest estimate of N98,786,069,351.92 or 66.80 percent of the capital expenditure.
The social sector is earmarked N38,442,105,896.73 (26.00 percent), administrative sector has N9,326,537,182.51 or 6.30 percent, while the law and justice sector gets N1,325,000,000.00 representing 0.90 percent.
The Governor then mentioned that the his administration will continue to support farmers and boost agricultural productivity in view of the sector’s obvious, strategic importance as the major occupation of the state’s teeming population and the backbone of its economy.
He stated that the state government will, in the 2023 fiscal year, prioritize the completion of the numerous road projects that have attained 80-90percent completion level as well as conclude those already initiated while directing contractors to resume back to their respective sites immediately.
The Governor appreciates the speaker and other members of the State Assembly as well as the judiciary for their continued cooperation with the executive arm in an effort to collectively improve the quality of life of the people of the state.
He also expressed gratitude to all Niger lites for their confidence in his administration.
In his remarks, the Speaker, Niger State House of Assembly, Abdullahi Bawa Wuse, commended the executive arm for the presentation of the 2023 budget estimates and assured of commitment to ensure quick passage of the appropriation bill.
He also promised to collectively work with the executive and relevant agencies to improve on the IGR of the state for the betterment of all.
