By Muhammad Bello
Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto state proposed to spend the sum of N198,501,095,129.88, N10 billion higher than the current 2022 Budget of ₦188,429,495,847.63.
Its breakdown shows that recurrent expenditure will gulp N87,094,957, 158.77 to be spread on personnel cost and other recurrent costs that will take up N44,338,.449,185.12 and N42,756,507,973.65 respectively; while capital expenditure will take up N111,406,137,971.11.
Tagged “Budget of Consolidation and Finishing Strong,” the Governor said it is a “realistic approach to fiscal policy” that symbolizes the imminent change of guard in the administration next year.
According to him, while presenting the 2023 appropriations bill to the Sokoto state House of Assembly (SOHA), the education sector has the lion’s share of the budget with an appropriation of N36,991,319,548.53 representing 18.6%.
It is closely followed by health and agriculture, for which N25,208,374,170.49 and N11,010,553,897.62 were allocated taking up 12.7% and 5.5% respectively.
Indicating that the capital expenditure is 58.9% while recurrent spending is 41.1% of the budget total, Governor Tambuwal said: “the budget will accord priority to the completion of ongoing infrastructural projects and the legacy projects started by this administration.”
Despite the challenges faced in implementing the 2022 budget as socioeconomic burdens placed on the citizenry by the social and economic impacts of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, climate change, insecurity, banditry, cattle rustling, kidnapping, and armed robbery, and shortfall in revenue, the Governor said the “Government remained resolute towards fulfilling its promises to the people of Sokoto State.”
The 2023 budget, made with the inputs of the citizens of the State, as in the previous years, “is borne out of our desire to carry the people along in the decision as to how their resources are expended,” the Governor explained listing priority areas it would cover as follow:
a) Completion of Sokoto urban renewal (township roads), drainages, construction of flyover bridges, from Rijiyar Dorowa to Sultan Abubakar Road, from Dandima-Runjin Sambo Roundabout and Gidan Man Ada N1,610,000,000.00.
b) Construction of dual carriageways from welcome to Sokoto Gate – Shuni Town N750,000,000.00.
c) Construction of Sokoto River Bridge and dualization of Tashar Illela Road to Road Block N3,200,000,000.00.
d) Construction of 38KM D/Daji Sabawa Garba Magaji Road N600,000,000.
e) Rehabilitation of Shagari-Tureta Road and Bridge N1,300,000,000.
f) Construction of the new Stadium at New Sokoto City N600,000,000.
g) Construction of 500 Housing units at Gidan Salanke N700,000,000.
h) Compensation for lands and property affected by development projects N1,500,000,000
i) Construction of Premier Hospital at Binji at N1,000,000,000
j) Construction of Premier Hospital at Sabon Birni of S/Birni LGA at N1,000,000,000.
k) Construction of Premier Hospital at Tambuwal at N1,000,000,000
l) Medical equipment for Sokoto State University Teaching Hospital N2,500,000,000
m) Construction 0f Government Girls
Science Academy Kasarawa N1,000,000,000.00.
n) Completion of New Abdullahi Bara’u Secondary School, D/Daji N1,500,000,000.
o) Rehabilitation of Sheik Abubakar Mahmud Gummi Secondary School N1,000,000,000.
p) Procurement and supply of furniture to schools N500,507,992.00.
q) Provision of incentives to poor and vulnerable households across the 23 LGAs to cushion the effect of COVID-19 under NG-CARES: N914,400,000.00.
r) Completion of ongoing rural electrification projects across the state including constituency projects N500,000,000.00.
s) Construction of Law School Campus in Sokoto at N1,000,000,000.
t) Construction of additional courts and furnishing of magistrate courts at Silame, Binji, Gidan Madi, Illela, and Gwadabawa N600,000,000.
u) Construction of New Ministry of Justice Complex at Garba Duba Road N400,000,00.
v) Construction of additional office block at Usman Faruk Secretariat N500,000,000.
w) Completion of Governors Lodge Abuja N300,000,000.
x) Construction of irrigation schemes at Kebbe, Silame, and Rabah N900,000,000.
y) Construction of earth dams at Kaikazzaka, Tidibale, Goronyo, Romo, Tambuwal, Isa, Kahail and Yabo N600,000,000.
z) Drilling of tube wells across the state under NG-CARES N700,960,500.00.
aa) Rehabilitation of existing farm access Roads under NG-CARES N700,960,500.00.
bb) Provision of agricultural inputs and services under NG-CARES N700,960,500.00
cc) Purchase of grains and others food items N700,000,000.
dd) Procurement of water treatment chemicals N750,000,000.
ee) Construction of conference center for the State Zakkat Commission at Ummaru Ali Shinkafi Polytechnic Sokoto N500,000,000.
ff) Purchase of NICON Estate at Bado Quarters Sokoto N300,000,000.
gg) Purchase of vehicles for members of State Executive Council N1,000,000,000
hh) Purchase of vehicles for Special Advisers N500,000,000.00
ii) Take off of State Community project Development Agency: N500m
jj) Support to Open Government Partnership OGP: N30m
kk) Implementation of WASH program in Gwadabawa, Dange -Shuni and GADA LGAs: 30m
ll) Construction of DOGON DAJI-
SABAWA Road: One Billion Naira
mm) Construction of New College of Education, Sokoto: N1, 647,000,000.00.
Seeking the usual collaboration of SOHA towards the realization of his administration’s transformation drive, the Governor commended the state legislators for their “patriotic commitment to the Government and people of Sokoto State.
“You are indeed true representatives of the people.
I will like to express the appreciation of the government and people of Sokoto State to you and of course the security agencies in the state for their efforts at curbing the rate of crime in the state,” he said.
He also extended a special appreciation to His the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, traditional and religious leaders “for their fatherly and spiritual guidance and support for government policies, activities, and programs.”
Bello is Special Adviser Media and Publicity to the Governor Tambuwal
