Tag: budget

2023 budget: Tambuwal assents to N189bn Sokoto Appropriation Bill

Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has signed into law the 2023 appropriation bill of N189 billion.

This development is contained in a statement issued to newsmen in Sokoto on Wednesday by Muhammad Bello, Special Adviser Media and Publicity to the Governor.

Bello quoted Tambuwal as appreciating the cordial working relationship with the Sokoto state House of Assembly since the inception of his administration.

The governor said the members had demonstrated an uncommon commitment and patriotism for the development of the state.

He particularly commended the All Progressives Congress (APC) members in the assembly for working together with their Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterparts in the interest of the state.

Tambuwal appealed to all the stakeholders and government functionaries who are going to work on the implementation of the budget to work harder in order to ensure effective implementation for the good of the state.

He also thanked the judiciary for the good working relationship with the executive in the discharge of their duties effectively.

Tambuwal lauded the civil society organizations and development partners who always participate in the budget process throughout his tenure and urged them to continue to give their best.

He also thanked the Sultanate Council of Sokoto, traditional and religious leaders for theit sustained support and cooperation to his administration.

The governor also appreciated the dedication of the state civil servants and citizens of the state for their unflinching support towards the success of his administration.

Earlier in his address, the Speaker, Alhaji Aminu Achida said he was impressed with the achievements of the 2022 budget in spite of all the financial problems faced by the country and the state.

He said the Glgovernor had recorded various achievements in the area of education, health, agriculture and infrastructure, among others.

The speaker added that the 2023 budget was a balanced one that took into cognisance some needs of the people of the state.

28/12/2022
Senate passes N21.8 trn 2023 budget

The Senate on Wednesday, passed the N21.8 trillion 2023 budget.

This followed the adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Appropriation at plenary.

Presenting the report, the Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Jibrin Barau said that the commitee did a thorough job by examining inputs from its sub-committees before reaching the final figure.

“We hereby recommend that the Senate do consider and approve a Bill for an Act to authorise the issue from the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CFR) of the Federation the total sum of N21.8 trillion.

“Of which N967 billion is for Statutory Transfers, N6.5 billion only is for debt service.

“N8.3 trillion is for recurrent (Non-Debt) expenditure.

“While N5.9 trillion for contribution to the Development Fund for Capital Expenditure for the year ending December 2023,” he said.

He said that the budget was raised from the N20.5 trillion submitted by the Executive by N1.3 trillion.

Barau said that President Muhammadu Buhari had on Oct. 7, laid before a joint sitting of the National Assembly the 2023 Appropriation Bill christened ”Budget of Fiscal Consolidation and Transition”.

He said that the President had proposed an oil price benchmark of 70 dollars, which was raised to 75 dollars by the National Assembly.

“The Executive proposed an exchange rate of N435.57 to a dollar while the national assembly approved same,” he said.

In his remarks, Senate President Ahmad Lawan, said that the passage of the budget was in line with the National Assembly’s pledge to reverse to the January- December budget cycle.

“This our fourth budget and last before the expiration of our tenure and we have kept that promise,” he said.

Lawan also urged the executive to strive hard to implement the 2022 supplementary budget.
“We have also passed the supplementary dudget for 2022. We expect total implementation. No selective implementation,” Lawan said.

Meanwhile, the Senate has adjourned plenary until Jan. 17, 2023.

28/12/2022
Gov. Badaru signs N178.5bn Budget for 2023

Gov. Badaru Abubakar

Governor Muhammad Badaru of Jigawa on Friday signed the state’s N178.5 billion Budget for the 2023 fiscal year into law.

Badaru signed the budget after it was passed to him by the State House of Assembly.

The governor expressed satisfaction with the state budget performance in the last seven years of his administration.

Badaru said that the 2023 Budget was designed to consolidate all the gains made in the last seven years, particularly in the area of physical and human capital development.

“This budget will be used to complete ongoing projects and numerous new ones across the state.

“In the last seven years, we were able to construct over 1,700 km roads, achieved 95 per cent access to water, improved our GDP, built and renovated over 6,000 class rooms.

“Also, with effective budget implementation, we were able to improve our eduction sector and the results showed in the performances of our students WAEC/NECO results.

“From 4.5 percent to over 60 per cent of those who obtained five credits, including Mathematics and English,” the governor said.

He, however, pledged to ensure that the citizens continued to enjoy dividends of democracy throughout his tenure.

“We’ve recorded significant improvement with regards to budget implementation and we will continue to ensure maximum implementation of this budget,” Badaru said.

24/12/2022
Akeredolu signs 2023 budget of N275.979bn into law

Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has signed the 2023 budget of N275. 979 billion into law.

Akeredolu had on Dec. 5, presented a total budget proposal of N272. 736 billion to the State House of Assembly for approval and passage.

The Assembly on Tuesday passed a total budget of N275, 979, 184, 000.00.

The House Appropriation Committee led by Akintomide Akinrogunde said the budget was increased in cognisance of the current economic realities in the country.

Akeredolu, while signing the appropriation bill into law on Wednesday in Akure, said N129. 839 billion, representing 47 per cent of the total budget is to cater for Recurrent Expenditure, while N146,140 billion, representing 52.99 per cent is for Capital Development.

The governor said that the budget was prepared from the inputs garnered during the town hall meetings with various stakeholders across the state.

Akeredolu further said that the budget preparation was also based on the REDEEMED agenda of his administration, which he said was the guide post for development of the state.

The governor described as heartwarming, the recent ranking of Ondo State as the State with the least poverty index in the country.

“The ranking by the National Bureau of Statistics, in collaboration with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) 2022 Multidimensional Poverty Index of States in Nigeria, is a testimony that this administration is on the right track,” he said.

The governor, however, decried the lean revenue from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC).

“I am assuring you that this administration will strive to logically implement the 2023 budget,” Akeredolu said.

21/12/2022
Adamawa Govt. increases 2023 budget to N175bn

Gov Fintiri

Adamawa State Government has made an upward review of its 2023 budget estimate from the initial projected amount of N140 billion to N175 billion.

Dr. Umar Pella, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, made the disclosure during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola on Wednesday.

According to him, the upward review was factored around the anticipated increase in the quantum of expected revenue in 2023, saying the increase in revenue would support the increase in expenditure.

He said the review was part of the recent executive council resolutions, based on the economic analysis and understanding of the trajectory and history of the state budget performance in the last six years.

“The review is also aimed at enabling the execution of life changing projects for the people of the state,” he said.

Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri administration has spent billions of naira on aggressive rural urban transformation through provision of relevant infrastructure.

07/12/2022
Buhari transmits FCT 2023 Budget to Senate

President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, transmitted the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) 2023 Budget to the Senate for consideration.

Buhari’s request was contained in a letter to the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan and read during plenary.

“Pursuant to Section 121 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigerias1999 (as amended).

“I forward herewith the Federal Capital Territory’s 2023 Statutory Budget Proposal for the kind consideration of the Senate.

“In the preparation of the Federal Capital Territory’s 2023 Statutory Budget Proposal, the Federal Capital Territory Administration aligns with the Federal Government’s laudable fiscal development policies.

“Accordingly, the FCT 2023 Budget proposal prioritising improvement in Heath Care Services, job creations. youth empowerment, social welfare services, education and increased productivity in agriculture in order to lift significant number of our citizens out of poverty,” he said.

06/12/2022
Masari weeps as he presents final budget

Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State on Tuesday wept while presenting the final budget of his administration to the state House Assembly.

The government proposed over N288.63 billion as the state’s budget for the 2023 fiscal year.

The proposal tagged, ‘Budget of Transition’, earmarked 63.77% as capital expenditure and 36.23% for recurrent services.

Masari said, “In aggregate terms, the 2023 budget is lower than that of the 2022 revised budget by N34, 662, 962, 998.00.

“The 2023 budget is structured with a total recurrent expenditure of N104,580,485,996.28, which is equivalent to 36.23 per cent of the total budget.

“And capital expenditure of N184,052,771,966.72, which is 63.77 per cent of the total budget.”

He said the budget would be financed from the Opening Balance of N12.06 billion, N62.59 billion Internally Generated Revenue, and over N119 billion expected from the Federation Account.

“It is important to note that the 2023 recurrent revenue has increased by 7.33% over that of the 2022 revised budget.

“And the capital expenditure in the 2023 budget has decreased by 20.92% due to a drop in capital receipts.”

He explained that N138.163 billion of the capital estimates would finance projects under the government restoration plan.

The governor said that the plan was in the area of Education, Health, Water Resources, Agriculture, Environment, Works, Housing and Transport sectors.

“As a result, therefore, the 2023 budget has provided adequate allocation of funds to the priority sectors of the state government (Capital) as follows:

“Environment N31,748,186,500.00, Water Resources N29,207,394,335.00, Health N23,974,614,962.00, Works N20,995,858,882.00, Education N18,632,987,897.00, and Agriculture N13,604,292,049.00.”

He said that other MDAs were allocated N45.88 billion.

The governor believed that his administration has done well “within the available resources to uplift the living standard of the people.

“I am sure posterity will judge our government on the meaningful projects, programmes and policies implemented during its tenure as government of Katsina state.”

The Speaker of the assembly, Alhaji Tasiu Maigari assured that the assembly would speed up the approval of the budget.

22/11/2022
Senate investigates budgeting system of NACA

Senate has commenced investigation into the 2021 and 2022 budgeting system used by the National Agency for the Control of Aids, NACA in preparing its annual budget.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Primary Health Care and Communicable Diseases, Senator Ishaku Abbo, disclosed this on Tuesday when the Director-General of NACA, Gambo Aliyu appeared before the committee for 2023 budget defence.

Expressing his displeasure over the discrepancies in the budgeting system of the agency, Abbo said that putting recurrent items under capital budget was a misnomer.

He said: “The fact that things have gone wrong for 100 years doesn’t make it to be right. We must change how things are done.

“How can a board meeting be captured as a capital project.

“This is not just a discrepancy it is a misnomer. We have to correct this misnomer.

“The committee will look at it and expunge it. Your capital doesn’t sound capital enough. We understand the importance of your agency,.”

He, however, set up a three-man ad hoc committee to look into the budgeting process of NACA.

“I’m setting up a three-man ad hoc committee to look at the budgeting processes of NACA and liaise with the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation and the Director-General Budget Office.

“This is so that they will come up with workable and more acceptable way of doing budget for NACA,” the chairman stressed.

Abbo said that the ad hoc committee is to be chaired by Senator Ibrahim Danbaba (PDP Sokoto).

He equally queried the level with which grants and aids received by government agencies were not accounted for.

“Grants and aids are currently been received by different government agencies on behalf of Nigerians. This is running into billions of naira.

“Nobody knows what they are doing with it. These agencies are a creation of the law. We must know what they are doing with the loans and grants. They must account for them,” Abbo said.

He, however, stepped down consideration of the 2023 budget of NACA.

Efforts by journalists to speak with the NACA boss was unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, after a closed-door session with Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, Director-General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Abbo said that the Senate would ensure adequate budgetary provision for the centre to get a befitting Headquarters.

“We had discussed during the closed-door session, the need for NCDC to get a convenient place for their office.

“Nigeria must begin to develop health institutions and systems so that we can be prepared for any emergency or pandemic,” he said.

15/11/2022
Senate fixes Nov 30 for presentation of N20.5trn 2023 budget reports

*As Appropriations C’ttee insists on adherence to time table

Reports on N20.5trillion 2023 budgetary proposals presented to joint session of the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari last month, is to be laid on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.

This is as the chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Jibrin Barau (APC Kano North), urged chairmen of the various committees to adhere strictly to time table drawn for consideration of the budget.

Senator Barau, who briefed the press Friday on planned programme for budget consideration at committee level and report presentation in plenary, said strict adherence is expected from all the committees.

According to him, while budget hearings /engagements with heads of ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs by Appropriations sub-committees, are expected to take place from October 13 to November 3, submission and defence of budget reports by the sub – committees are fixed for November 4-11, 2022.

He added that collation/harmonization of Reports by Appropriations Committee under his leadership, will take place from Friday, November 11 to Friday, November 25, 2022.

“Laying/presentation of the report by Appropriations Committee to the Senate in plenary, is fixed for Wednesday, 30th November, 2022,” he said.

Senator Barau, however, said the sub committees have been given another chance to appear from Monday with a subtle warning that failure to comply will force the main committee to do the job for them.

The chairman, who directed the Clerk of the committee to write all those concerned again emphasised the need to adhere strictly to the time table to ensure that the budget will be passed in December.

He said: “I want to say again that we shall not fail to go on with our commitment, making sure we do everything humanly possible to get this budget passed before the end of this year. It has been the practice in this 9th National Assembly and we shall not derail this laudable practice that everybody is happy with.

“We must adhere strictly to the time table. Those who have not appeared today, we give them another chance to appear on Monday. If they refuse to appear on Monday, and I hope they will not. We are optimistic they will appear on Monday.

“If you don’t appear, of course we have our way of dealing with that kind of problem because the Appropriation Committee will then take charge of what they are supposed to do, not really taking into consideration what they are supposed to bring ab initio.

“Normally the sub committee will liaise with the ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs under its purview, interact with them, scrutinise the budget and bring the report to us.”

Apparently in adhering to the time table, many other the committees have started adopting the quick fix option of ‘take a bow and go for budget considerations of the MDAs.

Specifically, the Committee on Interior headed by Senator Kashim Shetimma (APC Borno Central), adopted the option on Friday for the Ministry of Interior, Fire Service and Correctional Service by telling the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, to lay proposed 2023 budgets of the ministry along with those of the affected agencies and take a bow and go.

04/11/2022
NASS warned against budget padding

BudgiT Foundation Nigeria, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) says it is pertinent for the National Assembly to guard against padding of the 2023 budget in view of current economic reality.

Mr Gabriel Okeowo, the Country Director of the foundation, said this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday, in Abuja.

He said increasing the size of the 2023 budget proposal above the N20.5 trillion presented by President Muhammadu Buhari would weigh so much on the economy.

According to him, the economy is already battling inflation, high interest rate among other economic challenges and should not be further burdened with a budget that will prompt more borrowing.

“The National Assembly should make sure that they streamline the 2023 budget proposal to make it as implementable as possible.

“From what we have seen over the years, no matter the size of the budget proposal presented to the national assembly, when it is coming out, there would be insertions that would blow it up.

“For instance, the President while assenting to the 2022 budget, said the National Assembly inserted several new projects.

“So, we have to start now to let the lawmakers know we are following up on the ongoing budget defence by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs),” he said.

He said the legislature should be able to stand its ground to ensure that it cuts down on frivolous items presented by MDAs.

He said if it would be difficult to reduce borrowing to fund the budget, the National Assembly should then be stringent on items that would form it.

He, however, said if the National Assembly refused to take to advice to streamline the budget proposal, the executive should reject it.

“On the side of the executive, it also needs to sit up because democracy is a system that checkmates itself.

“If the National Assembly ends up not doing what it is supposed to do, the Executive should be able to stand its grounds to return the budget for amendment.

“We should not for the sake of wanting to sign the budget into law by December, to keep to January-December Calender, mess up the credibility of the budget itself,” he said.

01/11/2022