Umar Akilu Majeri
As COVID-19 crippled the Nigeria Economic, the Jigawa State Government has reduced the 2020 budget by 19 percent in line with the emerging realities that challenge the fiscal assumption underlying macroeconomic framework.
The deputy governor Malam Umar Namaddi announced this while inaugurating the high powered technical committee on Jigawa State Medium Terms Revenue Strategy, MTRS, in his office.
He explained further that it is indeed a difficult time for the nation and Jigawa State, due to the effect of the global economic crunch which has been made worse by the covid 19 pandemic
The deputy governor said the effect of COVID-19 has resulted in the dwindling of fiscal resources available for the social-economic development of the state.
“For Instance as the pandemic ravage the global economy, we had no other choice than to reduce the 2020 budget by 19 percent in line with emerging realities that challenge the fiscal assumption.
‘ you will agree with me that there are no better times to place issues affecting our internally generated revenue on the front burner than now” he stated.
As a responsible government ” we have decided to adopt a holistic approach to shoring up the state revenue by developing and implementing a medium-term revenue strategy, MTRS, for the state” he explained.
He added that the MTRS will clearly define the government approach to revenue administration and management as part of a broader revenue reform process to be embarked on by the state government.
Shortly after inaugurating the committee which he is the chairman of that committee, the deputy governor himself urged all members of the committee to approach the assignment diligently and in the interest of the people of Jigawa state.
He explained that Jigawa State has the privilege of being supported by PERL and other UK FCDO programmes as well as the representative of civil society groups on this journey.
He said he expects the committee will help the state in fast-tracking the process.
While delivering his speech the Chairman of Board of Internal Revenue Alhaji Rahim Sani Muhd Gumel said Jigawa State before was only generating less than one billion as revenue annually.
Gumel said but the State is generating over ten billion Naira annually with the help of other agencies.
