He Jigawa State The House of Assembly on Tuesday approved the 44.7 billion naira supplementary budget bill requested by state Governor Umar Namadi for the year 2023.
On Wednesday, the governor approved the supplemental budget and praised lawmakers for quickly passing the bill.
On August 6, state Budget and Economic Planning Commissioner Babangida Umar said the government proposed the supplementary budget of 44.7 billion naira for 2023 to finance critical infrastructure and social services in the state.
The official said this is the second supplementary budget for the state in five months after more than 13 billion naira was approved in March to finance repairs to damaged drains, roads, bridges and other essential services across the state.
Umar said the Ministry of Public Works and Transport would be allocated 13 billion naira, while 6 billion naira would be allocated to the Ministry of Health and Education sectors respectively.
The remaining 25.7 billion naira would be used for other development services for the people of the state.
The official also said the supplementary budget was necessary due to the increased revenue generated by the removal of the fuel subsidy.
“In March this year, the state executive council approved a supplementary budget of about 13 billion naira. It became necessary after the mid-year budget review, recurring execution and capital expenditures. We have noticed that there is a lot of revenue that has accrued in the state treasury, and some will accrue in the treasury before spending that revenue that must be appropriated.
“The previous budget was based on the N420 exchange rate; now the exchange rate is 750 naira; there is a need for a review and elimination of the fuel subsidy, necessary for the state and the federation to receive more income from the federation account.
“The State has to consider reviewing its budget for the remaining months. The state is seeking an additional supplemental budget due to the increase in revenue that accumulated in the state’s consolidated revenue fund.
“This is the second supplementary budget for the year, amounting to 44.7 billion naira, and the state executive council has approved the budget; It will be presented to the legislature for consideration. There will be more money in circulation and more jobs will be created in the next four months of 2023.
The state House of Assembly originally approved 185 billion naira for the year 2023. With the two additional supplementary budgets passed in March and August, the state appropriations bill for 2023 now stands at 242.775 billion naira.
According to a report by the House Appropriations Committee, headed by Ibrahim Adamu, the second appropriations budget aims to address challenges in agriculture, works projects, water supply, education and health considered for socio-economic development in line with the 12- Point agenda of the state government.
In the supplementary budget, legislators approved 5,200,000,000 naira earmarked for upgrading rural (feeder) roads, but reduced the amount by 350,000,000 naira to fund election projects for flood and erosion control projects with 93,000,000 naira and another 10,000,000 naira for market/park construction and N87,000,000 for traffic light/street construction under 2023 constituency projects.
Lawmakers also approved Naira 160,000,000 under the Rural Electrification Schemes to finance public lighting in selected locations (unnamed locations) under the 2023 Constituency Schemes.
Lawmakers also approved 25,000,000 naira for the Ministry of Water Resources to maintain utility vehicles. For the rehabilitation of the existing urban water supply system, Naira 100,000,000 is approved for the procurement of submersible pumps in Shuwarin community, vertical filter reinforcement and overhaul of generator sets, and the procurement of generator sets of between 40 KVA and 350 KVA.
For monitoring and evaluation activities, Naira 70,000,000 was approved for the purchase of one new Toyota Hilux vehicle and two well-used 2013 Toyota Corolla LEs.
Acquisition of vehicles for judges.
For the High Court judge, the legislator approved 225,800,000 naira to purchase 5 Toyota Camrys (model 2022-XLE 2.5L) for an additional 4 High Court judges and a registrar. For the newly reintroduced Ministry of Special Duties, 3,800,000 naira was approved for office equipment.
At the Ministry of Special Duties, legislators approved 1,240,000 naira for the purchase of a television; 150,000 naira for jars of tea; 90,000 naira for cups of tea; 225,000 naira for food jars; 60,000 naira for plates and spoons; 240,000 naira for file jackets; 60,000 naira for extension cord and 450,000 naira for stationery.
Education
Lawmakers also approved Naira 200,000,000 for renovation of storm damage to school infrastructure at GGASS Kaugama, GDSS Birniwa, SAIS Hadejia, GDASS Majia, GDTO Dantanoma, GDASS Auyo (block erection), GDASS Kaugama and GDASS Dantanoma.
Others include GGASS Danzomo, GGASS Birniwa, GDASS Kirikasamma, GDASS Jikas, GDASS Taura, GDASS Shagari; GDASS Jahun and GDASS Bulangu.
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475,000,000 naira was also approved for the purchase of furniture for senior schools and double-decker beds for senior secondary schools.
Floods, erosion control and the environment
Lawmakers also approved 400,000,000 naira for flood and erosion control. The amount will go towards stormwater pumping, river damming and other measures to control flooding and erosion in Kafin-Hausa, Chai-Chai, Adaha, Karnaya and Kazaure.
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