The Nation Newspaper

Tag: proposes

  • Lalong proposes N148b budget for 2019

    Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong has proposed a budget estimate of N148 billion for the 2019 fiscal year.

    He described it as a Budget of Rescue and Infrastructural Growth.

    Of the total, recurrent expenditures is allocated N85 billion, representing 56 per cent of the estimates, while capital expenditures takes N63 billion, amounting to 43 per cent of the budget.

    Lalong announced this yesterday while presenting next year’s Appropriation Bill to the House of Assembly in Jos, the state capital.

    He said: “We appropriately tagged the 2019 budget to emphasise our administration’s commitment to the principle of continuity in governance, policy and programme implementation as well as sustainability in socio-economic prosperity and infrastructural development.

    “In this budget, we shall be consolidating on the gains and achievements of this administration since the beginning of our Rescue Mission as a demonstration of our desire to leave a lasting legacy.”

    The 2019 budget proposal shows an increase of N2 billion over the outgoing year’s.

    The government allocated the lion’s share of the budget to Works and Transport ministry with N16 billion.

    At the presentation to the lawmakers, Lalong said: “While urging this honourable Assembly to diligently peruse and deliberate on the budget, I look forward to your cooperation in the speedy passing of the budget to enable us commence implementation and service delivery from onset of the new year.

    “I have no doubt that having demonstrated good team work and competence in legislative duties in almost four years of the existence of the Eighth Assembly, you will be more than willing to sacrifice time and efforts on this assignment for the good of the people of Plateau State.

    “I sincerely hope that in the spirit of transparency, due diligence and accountability, and with greater confidence, we will collectively double our efforts to surpass the achievements made in human and infrastructural development. We shall further be energised in contributing to repositioning the state for more enduring and progressive legacies.

    “While thanking you for your time, I wish to extend my best wishes for a Merry Christmas celebration and prosperous New Year in advance.”

  • Ministry proposes N6.7b for 2018

    Delta State Ministry of Health has proposed N6.7 billion to provide quality and affordable health care next year.

    Health Commissioner Dr. Nicholas Azinge, speaking yesterday in Asaba, during a budget defence before the House of Assembly Committee on Health, said the ministry prioritised quality, accessible, equitable and affordable health care services.

    He said the proposed budget of N6.7 billion was proof of the government’s resolve to achieve universal health coverage at all levels.

    Azinge said N1.2 billion was set aside for contributory health commission.

    He said N400 million was earmarked for renovation and completion of primary health centres, adding that primary health care is the cornerstone of health care system.

  • Agbakoba proposes new laws to tackle recession

    Agbakoba proposes new laws to tackle recession

    Former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president, Dr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), yesterday proposed two new laws to help get Nigeria out of recession.

    He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to forward to the National Assembly a Reinvestment and Recovery Bill and an Emergency Economic Stabilization Bill.

    According to him, the bills would help stimulate the economy and bail out the ailing financial system when passed into law and implemented.

    He further urged Federal Government to do an inventory of its financial requirements to determine what it needs and where to put the money.

    In a statement, Agbakoba said: “I have followed with interest the debate on the propriety or otherwise of Federal Government’s proposed sale of national assets to deal with the recession. I will not make any comment on the propriety of the proposed sale.

    “However, I am of the view that the Federal Government needs to do two things: first, an inventory of financial requirements – how much money do we need? Second, an inventory of need – Where do we put the money? Findings from these inventories will provide a guide for government.

    “I will also recommend President Obama’s approach to the American recession. President Buhari should propose to the National Assembly a Reinvestment and Recovery Bill and an Emergency Economic Stabilisation Bill to stimulate the economy and bail out the ailing financial system.”

  • Akwa Ibom proposes N492b budget

    Akwa Ibom proposes N492b budget

    Akwa ibom State has sent N492 billion draft budget for 2015 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly for consideration and approval.

    The amount which is N3.5 billion higher than the 2014 figure, showed that Capital Expenditure has N268 billion, as  against N336 billion for last year, while Recurrent Expenditure has N94.7 billion as against N74.2

    billion for the preceding year.

    The Commissioner for Finance, Akan Okon, who announced this on Tuesday at the Executive chambers of Governor’s Office, Uyo, said members of the state’s Executive Council presided over by the  Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, approved the draft budget.

    Okon, explained that the state government is committed to the completion of such flagship projects, as the Tropicana Entertainment Centre, roads, the Specialist hospital and four-point Sheraton Hotel, Ikot Ekpene, among others.

    Okon, who attributed the increase in Recurrent Expenditure for next year to the employment of additional 5,000 teachers and more civil servants, lauded Akpabio for his vision in embarking on, and completing the key projects, hoping that the next administration would sustain the projects.

    The Permanent Secretary, Directorate of Budget, Governor’s Office, Uyo, Pastor Nicholas Ekarika, thanked the Governor for not deviating from the 80 per cent for Capital Expenditure and 20 per cent for Recurrent Expenditure for many years now.

    He called on different ministries, agencies and parastatals in the state to be judicious in the implementation of the budget.

  • Reps Committee proposes adequate funding for INEC

    Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters, Jerry Manwe, has said the committee will ensure that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was adequately funded for the 2015 elections.

    Manwe told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja yesterday that the committee would look at the budget of INEC for 2014 to ensure that it was adequate.

    “Of course if INEC wants more funds and the essence is to conduct free and credible elections, it will be provided for,” he said.

    Manwe said the committee would to propose it if more funds would enable the commission to conduct credible, free and fair elections.

    He said the House of Representatives could only propose funds to agencies of government.

    According to him, the committee would also look at the entire operations of the commission to ensure that it was adequately prepared.

    “First, we will look at their budget and invite the commission and ask it on the level of its preparation towards the 2015 elections, “ he said.

    The legislator said everything would depend on how much fund was given to the commission.

    Manwe said that the committee would also look into some aspects of the Electoral Act.

  • Fashola proposes N489.69b for 2014

    Fashola proposes N489.69b for 2014

    Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), has proposed a budget of N489.69 billion for the 2014 fiscal year to the House of Assembly.

    Fashola, whose budget presentation yesterday, was before a large audience of stakeholders, ranging from party chieftains and captains of industries, amongst others, said the showed a slight drop of about N10billion from the N499.604billion of the year 2013 budget.

    He said the budget has N234.665 billion as recurrent expenditure and N255.025 billion for capital expenditure.

    The breakdown showed a Total Personnel Cost/Total Revenue of 19 per cent; Total Personnel Cost/IGR, of 27 per cent, and Personnel Cost as percentage of Recurrent Expenditure of 37 per cent, anchored on a zero deficit financing requirement, he said.

    The sectoral breakdown is as follows: General Public Service, N100.215 billion; Public Order & Safety, N17.977 billion; Economic Affairs, N160.046 billion and Environmental Protection, N39.727 billion.

    Also, N50.537 billion is allocated for Housing and Community Amenities; N37.8 billion goes to Health; N3.482 billion, is set aside for Recreation, Culture and Religion, while N77.423 billion and N2.466billion are devoted to Education and Social Protection, respectively.

    Fashola, said because this is the last full year budget that his administration would implement, there’s a slight reduction in budget size when compared with the 2013 budget, stating that its focus is “to complete on-going projects, and consolidate on the gains we have made.”

    He listed the sectoral highlights of the 2014 budget as; General Public Service, Pensions, Residents Registration and Issuance of permanent residents’ cards, implementation of Public Procurement Law, Public Order and Safety, Computerisation/Automation of Judicial procedures, including e-filing, Completion of on-going High/Magistrate Courts’ projects, Renovation/Rehabilitation of Court Rooms and Judges Chambers, and Improving Safety and Disaster Management.

    He said the budget would also focus on implementation of various Independent Power Projects, development of Enterprise Zones in Gberigbe, Ikorodu and Upgrading of Yaba Industrial Park, advancement of Ten-Lane Lagos-Badagry Expressway/Blue Rail Line Corridor, completion of other on-going Road Construction Projects and pedestrian bridges, Agric-YES, Accelerated Food Expansion Program, Rice, Animal Husbandry and Root Crops, among others.

    “One of our programmes that we will be paying attenition to is the Residents’ Registration exercise. As I said at the launch, it is for Residents of Lagos and no more. It seeks to register everybody who intends to live here for up to 6 (six) months and beyond, irrespective of where they come from,” he stressed, adding that “with effect from the 1st of December 2013, it will be a requirement in terms of information to be provided in order to enable us to provide service to you or process requests from you.”

  • Fayemi proposes N93.6 budget for next year

    Fayemi proposes N93.6 budget for next year

    Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi yesterday presented the N93.6 billion Appropriation Bill for next year to the House of Assembly.

    With him at the presentation were members of the State Executive Council, led by his deputy, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka.

    The budget, tagged: “Budget of Empowerment and Consolidation”, has a proposed recurrent expenditure of N46,416,141,231 (49.6 per cent) and capital expenditure of N47,200,688,770 (50.4 per cent).

    Infrastructure would gulp 21.2 per cent; Education, 17.2 per cent; Health, 10.7 per cent; Agriculture, three per cent; Industry, 3.3 per cent; Tourism, 1.7 per cent; Women Empowerment, Gender and Sports, 2.3 per cent.

    Fayemi said N9.9 billion would be expended on roads. He said intra-township roads in the three divisional administrative headquarters, including Ikere, Ikole and Ijero, would be built with street lights installed.

    He said all ongoing road projects would be completed next year.

    Water projects would get N2.4 billion and the rehabilitation of General Hospitals and Comprehensive Health Centres N2.163 billion.

    Fayemi said the funds would be raised from the Federal Allocation, Value Added Tax (VAT), Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), External Grants, Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Grants, Bond, Special Grants and Ecological Fund, among others.

    He said N31.4 billion is expected from the Federation Account, N7.3 billion from VAT, N4.6 billion as external grant, N14.3 billion is from IGR, N8.5 billion from the Excess Crude Account and N7.1 billion from the Capital Market.

    Stressing the need to address poverty, the governor said next year’s budget would focus on empowering rural dwellers.

    He said a new ministry would be created to address poverty reduction and facilitate rural development.

    Fayemi hailed the Assembly for passing a bill on the establishment of the State Peace Corps and assured investors of safety.

    He pledged to sustain the Social Security Scheme for the Elderly and urged the Assembly to accelerate the bill’s passage.