Kebbi State Governor, Comrade Dr. Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu has presented the 2024 budget proposal to the Kebbi State House of Assembly this Wednesday.
The proposed 2024 budget, tagged ‘ Budget of Infrastructure and People’s Empowerment ‘ is in the sum of Two Hundred and Fifty Billion One Hundred and Thirty Four Million Ninety One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty Seven Naira One Kobo (N250,134,091,757.01) only.
Presenting his first Budget to the State House of Assembly, Governor idris stated that the recurrent expenditure accounts for Ninety Billion, Six Hundred and Forty Million, Two Hundred and Eighty Six Thousand ,Four Hundred and Twenty One Naira Fifty Three Kobo.
The capital expenditure stands at One Hundred and Fifty Nine Billion, Four Hundred and Ninety Three Million ,Eight Hundred and Five Thousand, Three Hundred and Thirty Five naira and Forty Eight Kobo, 159, 493,805,335.48.
According to him, the proposed revenue expected to fund the proposed Budget include Statutory allocation coming from the federation account, estimated in the sum of Seventy Nine Billion, Two Hundred and Fifty Four Million, Two Hundred and Sixty Nine Thousand, Three Hundred and Fifty Naira, N79,254,269,350 while the internally generated revenues are estimated in the Sum of Eighteen Billion ,Three Hundted and Eighty Seven Million, Three Hundred and Forty One Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ninety One Naira, Twenty Six Kobo.
Highlighting the proposed 2024 Budget, the governor spoke about the impact of removal of fuel subsidy on the finances of the State. ” This budget is a path to a renewed and reinvigorated economy as we begin our Kebbi journey Post subsidy removal.
‘ Mr Speaker, this 2024 budget of ‘ Infrastructural Development and People Empowerment ‘ is hinged on the indices that are cautiously optimistic as we recognize that the Nigerian economy as a whole is not completely out of the woods .
‘ Oil prices are benchmarked at S74 per barrel with an exchange rate of N750 to 1 US dollar . Inflation is estimated to be at 21.40 percent ‘, he said.
Governor Idris explained that the budget aims to enhance agricultural and Mineral Resource productivity through access to improved technologies, finance and services to increase income generation and provide food security as well as poverty reduction.
Youths and women livelihood would be improved through job creation and social economic empowerment that will deliver social progress and transformation, the governor stressed.
The governor appreciated the State House of Assembly members for their unflinching support to his administration which according to him led to the success recorded by his administration since he assumed office six months ago.
” Mr. Speaker ,let me first and foremost thank this House under your leadership for the harmonious working relationship between the Executive and the Legislature since I assumed office 6 months ago’, he averred.
He also commended the House for the speedy passage of the 2023 supplementary budget and other bills that have been given speedy consideration and passage for his assent .
He enumerated some of the cogent sucessess recorded by his administration within six months in office to include payment of workers salary and government running cost , payment of pension and gratuity to retirees.
Others include construction of roads ,schools, distribution of fertiliser and farm inputs to maintain food security, promising to continue to give priority to security for the protection of lives in the state .
He also added that he was in Abidjan as part of delegation of Northwest Governors to seek for investment from African Development Bank, AFDB for Special Agro Processing Zones, SAPZ and will be making similar trip to the United States in order to continue the drive to attract Foreign Direct Investment ,FDI for the agricultural sector.
He affirmed that as part of the 2024 spending plans, government will provide clean drinking water by sinking boreholes and continue electrification of towns and villages at the cost of over one billion naira.
He equally announced that Kebbi State Government would rehabilitate the Koko-Mahuta-Dabai road as part of the 2024 budget spending.
In his remarks, the Speaker of the assembly, Alhaji Usman Muhammad-Ankwai, assured that the House would ensure thorough scrutiny and speedy passage of the budget.
He also assured that the House would ensure sustained cordial working relationship with other arms of government in the state and commended the wives of the Governor for their Humanitarian services to the people of the State.
