Gov Bala Presents N202.6bn 2023 Budget To Bauchi Assembly

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has presented a budget of N202.641 billion for fiscal 2023 for approval by the state House of Assembly.

The appropriation bill is made up of recurrent expenditure of N87. 923 billion representing 43 percent of the total expenditure and the sum N114. 714 billion as capital expenditure, representing 57 percent of the budget size.

Presenting the expenditure proposal to the Assembly in Bauchi yesterday, Governor Bala Mohammed revealed that 2023 budget was 2.6 percent higher than the 2022 budget which was N195.355 billion

The governor attributed the rise in the 2023 budget to inflationary trend in the country that align to the state projections with the current economic realities, which a comparative approach was adopted to ensure the projects and programmes captured were approximately costed to ensure smooth implementation.

He said the process for 2023 budget preparations was all-inclusive as public hearings were conducted in the state’s three senatorial districts with inputs from the stakeholders incorporated into the budget.

Bala Mohammed gave a recurrent revenue estimate of N125. 466 billion, which is made up of internally-generated revenue (IGR) of N22.568 billion, statutory allocation of N51.909 billion and Value Added Tribunal (VAT) of N35.218 billion.

The governor also gave a recurrent estimate of N87.923 billion was earmarked for recurrent expenditure, which is also made up of personnel cost of N41. 547 billion and overhead cost of N46.375 billion.

He solicited the support and cooperation of the legislature of the people in the drive towards the development of the state and in improving the welfare of the citizens to which the administration had made significant progress.

The economic sector got the lion share of the overall budget with over N58 billion of the appropriation bill tagged: “Budget of Accomplishment and Renewed Commitment.”

A detailed sectoral allocation of the budget shows that administration got N8 billion, law and justice N1 billion and N34 billion was allocated to the social sector.

Governor Bala said as at the end of September this year, the 2022 budget was implemented up to 58.25 percent, adding that before the end of the year, the budget will be implemented up to 85 percent.

He blamed the poor economic performance of the country for the average implementation of the 2022 budget.

The governor also said the weak performance of naira against the US dollar spelt low cash flow into the coffers of Bauchi State Government and local governments in 2022.

He commended the peaceful working atmosphere existing between the executive and legislature, adding that it gave him the opportunity to deliver people-oriented programmes and policies.

Responding, the Speaker. Hon. Abubakar Sulaiman, assured the governor of timely and speedy passage of the appropriation bill to enable the executive to complete ongoing projects across the state.