By Ado Hassan, Sokoto
GOVERNOR Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has presented for approval, a budget of N176.7bn for the 2021 fiscal year
to the Sokoto Assembly with a resolve to focus more on the provision of critical infrastructure among other visible aspects of development.
The highest sectoral allocation of 22% at N38.78bn goes to Education.
Also allocated top share are Agriculture N20.77bn and Health with N17.91bn
The budget with Capital Expenditure of N95.53bn and Recurrent at over N81bn, indicate an increase against the outgoing fiscal year budget tagged” Budget of Sustained Socio-Economic Development and Inclusiveness” which was appropriated at N202,345, 425,942.68 and subsequently reviewed downward to N164 billion to cushion the effects of the novel Covid-19 pandemic.
While presenting the budget tagged “Budget of Consolidation and Economic Emancipation …” before the house with the Deputy Governor , Muhammad Manor Dan Iya, Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, members of the State Executive Council, other top government functionaries and PDP stalwarts in attendance in the brown hallow chambers, Thursday, Tambuwal noted that the year 2020 was quite challenging not only in the Sokoto but Nigeria and the world sequel to the Covid-19 pandemic.
” Inspite of the gloomy picture , Sokoto state was able to perform remarkably well even in the face of the challenging issues of insecurity occasioned by banditry, cattle rustling, kidnappings and armed robbery activities”, he pointed out.
Accordingly, the governor explained that his government has laid a responsive emphasis in curtailing the spread of the novel Covid-19 pandemic.
Tambuwal hitherto disclosed that Sokoto state is one of the few states adopting the principles of transparency in the processes of achieving an all inclusive budget appropriation in order to ensure human oriented legacy projects in all spheres of it drive for food security through irrigation and dry season farming among other critical areas of benefits to the people of the state.
He said the administration will also accord priority to welfare packages to further cushion the effects of current economic hardship.
However,reflecting on the flood that ravaged parts of the state,Tambuwal said ” inspire of the devastation, we have been able to emerged more resolved and even stronger to drive our economy in the best direction towards prosperity”, he stressed.
The governor however, made a special appeal with a request to the house to extend its timely support and cooperation to enable the passage of the bill for improved infrastructural development on earnest for the benefit of the state.
Responding, Speaker Aminu Muhammad Manya Achida who assured the governor of a speedy passage of the budget noted with passion the transparent nature of the budget which took consideration of the priority needs of an average citizen of the state.
According to the Speaker, ” we will not relent to ensure timely passage of the budget proposal to enable the people oriented government to consolidate on its journey towards developing the state.”
