Biodun Esan, Ilorin
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara on Thursday laid before the parliament the N296.4 billion budget for the year 2024, with the capital expenditure guzzling a whopping 61 percent of the proposed spending while recurrent keeping the balance of 39 percent.
AbdulRazaq, presenting the budget before the House of Assembly said the budget was 15.5 percent higher than that of the outgoing year with an opening balance of N25 billion.
He expressed profound gratitude to God, and appreciated the people of Kwara and the All Progressives Congress (APC), for another win at the last general elections.
Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi led the Governor’s entourage which also comprised top heads of statutory commissions, government officials; first class traditional rulers; security commanders; party elders; business executives; and citizens.
The budget session was presided over by the Kwara State House of Assembly Speaker Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu.
The budget, christened; “Budget of ‘Economic Expansion and Collective Prosperity”, earmarked N180 billion for capital expenditure representing 61 percent of the total budget, while recurrent expenditure gets the remaining N116 billion representing 39 percent.
“This document is predicated on the estimated crude oil price of $77.96; daily oil production of 1.78 million barrels per day; exchange rate of N750/USD; GDP growth projection of 3.76 percent; and 21.4 percent inflation rate.
“Further details on the budget estimates are contained in the full version of the fiscal plan, which will be issued later.
“The budget will be funded from an assortment of sources, especially the internally generated revenue and receipts from the federation accounts, among other channels.
“This fiscal plan will prioritise the completion and unveiling of several of our legacy projects, and the introduction of a few other ones that center on the welfare of the people.
“I am glad to inform this Honourable House that the Ilorin Capital City Master Plan will officially produce what we call Ilorin Smart City Satellite Town, which will cover an area estimated at 18,000 hectares.
“This city is modeled after sustainable, green cities around the world, such as Washington DC. The groundbreaking of this huge project will be done next year, God willing.
“Some other highlights include the establishment of the Kwara State University Teaching Hospital; Kwara State University of Education; completion of the first phase of the industrial park at Eiyenkorin; MSMEs Support Funds; rehabilitation of Ilesha Baruba Waterworks and others elsewhere in the state,” he said.
The capital expenditure includes the construction of statewide rural access roads through RAAMP; rehabilitation of Isanlu Isin Waterworks and extension of pipes; and rehabilitation of Pampo waterworks and extension of pipes, among others.
Others are the construction of new wards and expansion of maternity unit at civil service clinic; expansion of 13 hospitals across the state; the construction of 250 housing units under the proposed mass housing scheme of the State Government; construction of CBT Centers across the 3 districts; wholesale curriculum revitalisation and training under KwaraLearn; payment of UBEC counterpart funds for 2022 and 2023; and some sports facilities statewide.
“Also covered in this document is our preparation for a new minimum wage, which is due for negotiation next year, completion of KWIRS modern headquarters, among other things.
“We will also begin the implementation of life-changing programmes like the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), livestock development center at Lata; special agro-processing zone, and L-PRES project, which seeks to provide infrastructure and the environment to curb the conflict between herders and farmers.
“Together in four years, we brought socioeconomic and political stability to our state and restored the dignity of the human person.
“We have redefined public education in human resource and infrastructure, basic healthcare delivery, social security, public service, rural development, sports, and recreational development, while measurable steps have been taken to make Kwara a hub of innovation, creativity, and viable economic activities in Nigeria.
“The next four years will serve to consolidate on the gains of our first term, expand the economic base of this lovely state through completion of ongoing infrastructural projects and commencement of new ones,” the Governor said.
He said his administration desires to make the state more self-sustaining by widening the revenue base, creating more private sector-driven jobs, and bettering the lots of our people.
“In the new year, we will formally inaugurate our flagship projects like the Garment Factory, Visual Arts Centre, Tunde Idiagbon Bridge, Innovation Hub, Sugar Film Factory, the two campuses of Kwara State University, Shea butter factory in Kaiama, among others.
“These, in shaa Allaah, will create tens of thousands of direct and indirect jobs in the New Year, and spread collective prosperity on a sustainable basis,” he said.
Danladi-Salihu, for his part, said the Governor did so well in his first term to deserve the popular mandate he got to govern the state for another four years.
He said the legislature will peruse the budget and act in accordance with the public good.
“Let me acknowledge and commend Your Excellency for transparency, accountability, and fiscal discipline exhibited in the implementation of the budget in the outgoing year 2023.
“It is on record that this administration has completed many people-oriented projects in all parts of the state as captured in the budget.
“The desire to consolidate on the modest achievements recorded during your first term seems to be on course, considering the religious pursuit of the overall development of the state that has come to be a cordial objective of your administration since your second coming.
“I feel fulfilled with the magnitude of completed projects, ongoing projects, and others nearing completion.
“It is also noteworthy and commendable that Your Excellency has sustained the zeal with which you resuscitated the fulfillment of the state to counterpart funds in all sectors.
“The result of these is visible to every Kwaran to energise sectors such as basic education, rural roads, water supply and sanitation, health, and many others that were almost dead before you came on board and have since experienced a rebirth as the people of the state now have a new lease of life.
“I hope that the year 2024 appropriation bill contains realistic projections both on revenue and expenditure that all critical sectors of the economy are accorded adequate attention.
“It is only by doing this that the administration will consolidate on the achievements recorded in the first four years,” the speaker said.
He assured the Governor of the readiness of the House to work round the clock to ensure timely passage of the budget after thorough legislative scrutiny.
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