By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno has presented a N340.5 billion budget for 2024 to the state’s House of Assembly on Wednesday.
Mr Zulum said that he won’t leave debt for his successor, The budget would be financed from recurrent revenue of N206.8 billion made up of federal allocation and internally-generated revenue.
He said the budget was made of N198.2 billion capital expenditure and N142.3 billion recurrent expenditures.
“The budget will also be financed by capital receipts of N128.8 billion, comprising of aids and grants as well as capital development funds.
“The projection of the 2024 budget is predicated on Federal Government’s fiscal forecast for the 2024-2026 Medium Term Expenditure Framework.
“The internally-generated revenue forecast was adopted with some indications to reflect on the current realities within our purview,” Mr Zulum said.
The Ministry of Works got N45.4 billion, while Education got N39.4 billion.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources has been allocated N13.5 billion for both capital and recurrent expenditures, to undertake the construction of earth dams, maintenance of rural feeder roads, and the construction of a modern fish feed milling centre.
The Ministry of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation has been allocated N39.4 billion for both capital and recurrent expenditures to construct three (3) new mega schools across the three senatorial districts, as well as training and retraining of teachers.
The Ministry of Environment has been allocated N5.4 billion for both capital and recurrent expenditures to undertake the construction of drainage to control floods and erosion, the rehabilitation of waterways, and planting of over ten million tree seedlings.
The Ministry of Health and Human Services has been allocated N51.1 billion for both capital and recurrent expenditures to renovate and rehabilitate general hospitals in the state and the State Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri.
The Ministry of Trade, Investment, and Tourism has been allocated N3.4 billion for both capital and recurrent expenditures to reconstruct branches of the state hotels and an inland container freight station.
The Ministry of Works and Housing has been allocated N45.4 billion for both capital and recurrent expenditures to construct and rehabilitate roads and drainages across the state.
A breakdown of the budget showed that the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development has the lion share of N53.8 billion followed by Health, which was allocated N51.1 billion.
He lauded the legislative arm of government for its sustained support that facilitated development in the state and urged it to fast-track the passage of the 2024 budget.