Governor Abubarkar Sani Bello of Niger State has proposed N108, 074, 298, 251. 00 for 2017 fiscal year, which he tagged, “Budget Consolidation”.
He explained that the fiscal plan would be funded through Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), the Federation Account (FAAC), Value Added Tax (VAT) and Capital Receipts.
Presenting the budget before the state Assembly on Friday, Sani Bello said that the 2017 budget proposal was N22, 982, 176, 118.00, representing about 21.27 percent higher than that of 2016.
He further disclosed that the budget would focus more on the agriculture and the education sectors of the state economy.
Of the total revenue, N50, 695, 206, 724. 00 is expected from Statutory Allocation; N12, 403, 874, 117, 00 from IGR; N8, 793, 447, 040. 00 VAT, while N22, 781, 770, 370. 00 is expected from Capital Receipts made up of expected drawn-downs from Development Partner projects, grants and loans.
Proposed recurrent expenditure for the 2017 fiscal year stands at N48, 047, 960, 278.00, representing 44.45% of the entire budget. Personnel cost N29, 374, 941, 299.00; Consolidated Fund Charges, N7, 645, 660, 579, and Overhead Cost, N11, 027, 358, 400. 00.
The governor,
who also indicated that tN13, 400, 000, 000.00 is refund of proceeds from Paris Club loan being carried over to 2017, said Capital Expenditure within the year under review stands at, N60, 026, 337, 973.00, representing 55.55% of the total budget size.
A total of, N1.160 billion will be set aside for the water sub-sector. Key projects will include, procurement of water treatment chemicals and reagents, maintenance of Chanchaga, Suleja, Bida, Kontagora, New-Bussa and other water works in the state in addition to the provision of hand-pump and solar powered boreholes.
The budget which was however silent on security issues also indicated that the judiciary arm of government will have N299 million for the running of its affairs in the 2017 fiscal year.
Bello also said that N1, 093, 200, 000.00 has been proposed for the various projects in the social development sector.
These included renovation of Women Multipurpose Centre, Minna; upgrading of the Mentally Retarded Home, Bida, completion of the orphanage home in Minna and the construction of Permanent Remand Home, Kontagora.
Bello also hinted that the sum of N2, 100, 800, 000. 00 had been earmarked for Youth and Sports development. Key activities to be carried out within the period under review included training of youths under the CBN-EDC programme, completion of the NYSC orientation camp, he said.
The Speaker, Niger State House of Assembly, Ahmed Marafa, after receiving the document on behalf of the state legislature, assured Governor Sani Bello of timely perusal of the proposal for his assent.
