Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Muhammad Badaru,on Wednesday presented N156.6 billion Appropriation Bill to the State’s House of Assembly for consideration as budget for the 2021 fiscal year.
Presenting the Appropriation Bill tagged ‘Budget of Thrust and Policies’ during plenary of the Legislature in Dutse, the governor disclosed that the proposed budget was 2.4% and 29% higher than the original and revised budget 2020 currently being implemented by the government.
According to him, the sum of N78.241 billion is for capital expenditures and N78.34bn is earmarked for recurrent expenditures for the fiscal year.
Governor Badaru explained that the sum of N6.04 billion would be committed to water supply and sanitation which will cover components of water sanitation sectors comprising of urban, small towns and rural supply.
He clarified: “Emphasis will be given to Greater Dutse water supply, scheme and improvement of water supply scheme in local governments’ headquarters of the state.”
The governor said education and health sectors were proposed to get N78.25bn while roads and electricity critical infrastructure was earmarked N14.6bn to ensure that ongoing roads and rural electrification projects are completed and commissioned.
He explained that ministry of agriculture and livestock development was earmarked N12.1bn in addition to counterpart funding for the Agricultural Development Projects (ADPs) totaling N6.5billion while the Ministry of Women Affairs is proposed to get N1.7bn compared to Ministry of information’s N1.9bn.
Further analysis of the proposed budget indicated that other sectors. including land administration, housing urban development and regional planning will get N869.5 million, which will be committed to payment of lands and property compensation, implementation of low cost commercial housing and urban development programmes.
Speaker of Jigawa State House of Assembly, Hon. Idris Garba Jahun, said that the Appropriation proposal would be given prompt consideration it deserves for easy passage, noting that despite the COVID-19 pandemic the state government has achieved a lot in the implementation of the 2020 budget.
The lawmaker commended his colleagues for the cordial working relationship with the executive arm of government over the past year.
