Budget tracker: Gov Abubakar of Jigawa presents N127bn 2017 budget to the State Assembly

by Usman Alabi

Jigawa State governor, Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar yesterday presented N127 billion appropriation bill for 2017 to the state Assembly

The budget was tagged: “Budget of economic diversification and self-sufficiency”. The proposed budget is less than seven per cent of the 2016 budget.

Capital expenditure in the budget takes a large chunk of N66 billion, representing 52 per cent, while the recurrent expenditure is N37.5 billion, which is 48 per cent of the entire budget estimate. The governor also stated that N17.7 billion was proposed for overhead cost while N800 million was set aside for stabilization and contingency funds.

According to the governor, the state has an opening balance of over N19.9 billion and expects internal revenue statutory allocation of N12.4 billion, N45.9 billion value added tax, and N17.4 billion local government contribution and primary health care contribution, and also N9.1 billion internal and external loans.

He further stated that N21.2 billion would spent on road and transportation, N6.1 billion is estimated to be spent on agriculture and livestock development which is the mainstay of the state’s economy, N16.5 billion was proposed for education while N6.5 billion was set aside for the health sector, he added that N1.9 billion was earmarked for commerce and investment.

The budget also has provision for the recruitment of over 4,000 workers and purchase of utility vehicles in the state.

Do you think states like Jigawa has what it takes to fund their budget without depending on Federal government support?