From ISMA�ILA MUHAMMAD, Dutse
GOVERNOR Ibrahim Saminu Turaki of Jigawa state
has presented a budget proposal of N40.42 billion to the state House of
Assembly for the 2005 fiscal year.
Speaking while presenting the appropriation
document tagged �Balanced Budget�, said the total expected revenue has
equalled the total envisaged expenditure.
He said, the sum of N23.659 billion has been
set a side for capital development programmes, adding that on the spending
side, the budget is made up of recurrent expenditure provision of N15.561
billion.
Governor Turaki explained that the total size
of the budget which has increased with 18 per cent compared with last year�s
budget of N34.312 billion was arrived at a realistic projection of financial
resources for the year 2005, and taking into account all the socio-economic
parameters that would underpin their fiscal expected recurrent revenue.
He explained that the sum of N1.2 billion has
been set aside as stabilization fund, thus making the total expenditure
resources to be N39.22 billion.
He added that the structure of the budget is in
favour of capital development by a margin of over 52 per cent over recurrent
expenditure, despite the merger of the state Primary Education Board with
the ministry of Basic Education, as a result of which the personal cost of
the state went up by about N4 billion.
Governor Turaki disclosed that it was envisaged
that the mentioned expenditure proposal would be financed through Internal
Revenue N1.2 billion; statutory allocation N18.5 billion; Value Added Tax,
N2,080 billion; opening balance, N4 billion and LEA finances N4 billion.
Other sources of finance are transfer from
Federal Stabilization and other accounts, N7 billion; internal loans, N250
million; external loans from World Bank and other multinational agencies,
N631,718 million; grant and reimbursement N537,092 million and miscellaneous
capital receipts, N2 billion.
According to him, the sum total of these
sources of financing for the budget which comprises both the recurrent
revenue and capital receipts is exactly N40.42 billion.
Turaki stated further that the details of the
expenditure components of the budget which also amounts to that figure were
provided as consolidated revenue charges.
They consists of payments for pension,
gratuities, public debt charges, recurrent expenditure of the judiciary,
salaries as well as allowances of statutory appointments to the tune of
N3,206 billion and personal cost, payment of salaries and allowances of all
ministries, extra-ministerial departments as well as parastatals including
the 27 local education authorities, N9,089 billion.
Similarly, overhead costs of all government
agencies including among others, miscellaneous expenses such as government
contribution to the contributory pension scheme, contingency provision,
student scholarships, schools, hospitals feeding and maintenance among
others will gulp N3,071 billion.
He added that the sum of N1.2 billion has been
earmarked for stabilization fund to contain the negative effects of
fluctuations in revenue flows and the need to conserve resources for the
rainy day and the fund will begin by January 2005.
Governor Turaki announced that the capital
development programme which involved the implementation of all capital
investment programmes within four broad sectors of the budget. To this end,
the sum of N23.6 billion has been earmarked for development, social
services, regional development and general administration, that a big
increase in recurrent budget relative to 2004 approved estimates was as a
result of merger of the state Primary Education Board with the new ministry
of Basic Education which effectively transfers all the recurrent and capital
expenditure of the board and its components to the ministry.
Responding, the state Speaker, Hon. Mujtaba
Malam Makama said the House has acknowledged the receipt of the proposed
appropriation bill, adding that they will carefully study, scrutinize and
ensure speedy passage of the bill accordingly.
He said the lawmakers are always cooperative
and supportive to the administration of Turaki, appreciating cordial
relationship existing between the legislative and executive arms.
Hon. Makama congratulated the governor for the construction of
roads across the state as well as successfully conducting of the just
concluded Northern Peace Conference which took place in Kaduna.
