Rabiu Omaku
Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule has confirmed that his administration in the last four years has established four General hospitals. cut across the length and breadth of Local Governments and Development Areas.
The Governor gave the hint during the presentation of the 2024 budget to the State House of Assembly last week.
Abdullahi Sule averred that the essence of establishing an additional General hospital is to provide a dividend of democracy to all and sundry, especially in ensuring that the Government provides an effective and efficient health care delivery to the people.
He listed the benefiting communities to include the Gudi community in Akwanga Local Government, Assakio in Lafia Local Government, Toto Local Government, and Karu respectively.
Nasarawa State Governor, It would be recalled has allocated the highest vote to the education sector being his fourth time presenting the budget to the State House of Assembly.
The Governor explained that the effort was meant to reposition the education sector, The Governor allocated the sum of N44.96bn to enhance teaching and learning.
The 2024 budget is tagged Budget of Renewed Commitment; the budget of education represents 41 Percent of the total budget of N199.879,370,709.43.
The amount represents an increase of 10 Percent in this year’s budget for education as against 2023. budget.
The Governor said that realizing the importance of education in society, his administration has continued to commit enormous resources for the enhancement of the educational system, embarking on the mass construction and rehabilitation of classroom blocks in public primary and secondary schools aimed at creating a conducive environment for effective teaching and learning.
Health also retained its second position with N27.49 billion allocated to the sector.
The Governor reiterated his administration’s resolve to implement policies and programmes aimed at uplifting the living standard of the people and transforming the state towards becoming a hub for socio-economic activities.
“This is evident in our modest efforts in the construction of road networks and other physical infrastructure, provision of social amenities, healthcare service delivery, education, agriculture, economic empowerment and, indeed, robust investment opportunities,” he stated.
He reemphasized that the administration is anchored on the core principles of transparency, accountability, probity, and prudent management of state resources.
Governor Sule used the opportunity of the event to highlight some of the development strides of his administration in the past year, including attracting several investments, especially in agriculture and mining, as well as in oil and gas.
He explained that major inroads recorded led to the drilling of the Ebenyi-A Oil well in the Obi Local Government Area, as well as the recent discovery of other minerals including lithium in the Nasarawa Local Government Area of the state.
Reviewing the performance of the 2023 budget, the Governor disclosed that the Government envisaged revenue accruals from the federal allocation in the sum of N58.37 billion, whereas (IGR) was anticipated in the sum of N37.62 billion and N48.50 billion as capital receipts.
He said however, that total collection from federation allocation between January and October stood at (N74,789,617,130.20) only representing 128.12 percent,
(N23,979,427,797.47) only was realized as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) representing 63.74 percent.
Moreover, the actual total capital receipt, which includes domestic and foreign aid, grants, and loans stood at (N14,107,650,728.35) only, representing 29.09 percent.
“During the period under review, a total of (N57,425,259,412.04), was spent on Recurrent Expenditure representing 62.88%. This consists of Personnel cost (Including Pension, Gratuity, and Death Benefits) of N31.02 billion (64.73%) and another running cost (including Debt Servicing and Security Vote) of N26.40billion (60.83%) as of October 2023.
“On the other hand, the sum of (N26,332,906,245.18) representing 45.41% was spent on Capital Projects,” he added.
According to the Governor, the 2024 appropriation witnessed an increase of (N50,563,426,501.81) or 33.86 percent against the 2023 budget.
He gave a breakdown of the 2024 appropriation to include
N112,925,350,954.18 earmarked for recurrent expenditure, comprising
N54,079,872,865.13 for personnel cost, representing 27.06 percent, and running cost.
N58,845,478,089.05 was set aside for debt servicing, security vote, and other government running costs, representing 29.44 percent.
He added that capital expenditure is pegged at N86,954,019,755.25, in line with the administration’s 56:44 recurrent to capital ratio.
56 percent of the 2024 budget will go to payment of salaries, debt repayment, liabilities of pension and gratuity arrears, security vote, and other running costs of the Government’s day-to-day activities,
44 percent will of the budget go to capital projects for infrastructure development, construction, rehabilitation, repairs, and purchase of items for all sectors.
Governor Sule also gave a breakdown of sectoral allocations as follows:
Security, General Administration, N21.74 billion,
Legislation, N4.30 billion,
Pension & Gratuity, N7.27 billion,
Information, Culture & Tourism, N2.63 billion,
Civil Service Matters, N1.69 billion.
Others are Agriculture, N9.65 billion,
Fnance & Investment, N20.91 billion,
Works, Housing & Infrastructure, N22.68 billion,
Water Resources & Rural Development, N4.12 billion,
Lands & physical planning, N8.65 billion, and
Science, Technology & Innovation, N1.78 billion.
Judicial service commission, N0.637 billion,
Ministry of justice, N1.93 billion,
Courts (High Court, SCA, CCA), N3.90 billion,
Youth & sports development, N4.62 billion,
Humanitarian, women & social development, N2.11 billion
Environment & solid minerals, N5.50 billion
Local Government & community development, N6.31 billion.
