The Chairman, Bwari Area Council, Mr John Gabaya, on Tuesday in Abuja, presented the 2023 budget proposal of N10.6 billion before the council’s legislature.
Giving a breakdown of the budget proposal, Gabaya said that a total of N6.7billion had been allocated for capital expenditure.
Also presented by the chairman was a total sum of N1.5 billion for health services and over N668 million for education and social development.
It also earmarked N612 million for sgriculture and natural resources in the council.
The chairman said that the 2023 budget was to consolidate and expand services as well as extend the dividends of democracy to citizens of the council.
He said that the council intends to fund the 2023 budget through its statutory allocation, as well as improved Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
” We intend to fund the budget through our statutory allocation, which is what every tier of government relies substantially on and the 10 per cent FCT IGR.
” The six area councils have recently reached an agreement with the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA) in this regard.
” We also intend to strengthen our internal revenue generation capacity here at the council to fill the gap of constant fluctuation,” the council boss said.
Gabaya said that the 2023 budget seeks to deliver inclusive growth and development to the vast majority of the people in the area, while also building further, significant gains in socio-economic transformation.
In his remarks, Speaker of the Legislative arm of the council, Mr Dogara Ahmed, assured of the speedy scrutiny of the bill while also assuring an optimistic review of the budget.
He said: ” Once the budget is passed, it will immediately be forwarded to the standing Committee on Finance and Appropriation to scrutinize and do the needful.
” I am optimistic that it will not be delayed but passed to the chairman for assent.”
Ahmed also added that the budget was considered the people’s budget due to careful consultations at grassroot level by the elected councilors of various wards, for community inclusiveness.
