By Lizzy Carr, Bauchi
Bauchi state governor, Bala Mohammed on Thursday, presented the 2022 proposed budget of N195,355,607,143.00 to the State House of Assembly.
According to the budget, N84,375,180,518, representing 43% is earmarked for recurrent expenditure, to include personnel cost, N37,004,732,226 and N47,730,448,292 overhead cost.
Capital expenditures is estimated at N110.620,425.00, representing 57%.
Bala said that the budget would be financed from an estimated internally generated revenue of N24,494,940,255; statutory allocation of N66,938,107,748 and value added tax of N15,608,321,097.
Tagged “Budget of Consolidation and Continuous Commitment”, Bala said the 2022 budget is 8.5% lower than that of 2021.
“The reduction was arrived at in order to align our projections with the current economic realities, especially related to our ability to meet anticipated revenues.
“This approach was adopted to ensure that projects and programmes captured are implemented”.
The governor said the budget process was inclusive with public hearings conducted in the three senatorial districts where all concerns and inputs where captured.
The budget was prepared based on prediction on the national assumption of oil production of 1.88 million barrels per day bench mark oil price of $57 per barrel.
“The administration will focus on the completion of on going projects while proposed new projects will only be on basis of critical needs.
“Other areas of focus is to ensure reduction in non essential overheads, maintenance of critical spending on core government services, target favourable sources of capital receipt and financial such as aids and grants.”
He urge the House to expedite action in passing the budget into law to enable government implement the programmes and projects that will have significant impact of the people.
Speaker of the Assembly, Abubakar Suleiman promised to scrutinized the budget for effective implementation.