2014 budget: Yobe presents N102.9billion

A total sum of one hundred and two billion, eight hundred and ninety-nine million, one hundred and forty-two thousand naira (N102,899,142,000) has been presented to the Yobe state house of Assembly as proposal for the 2014 budget, which represents 15.78 percent increase over last years budget of eighty-six billion, six hundred and fifty-eight million, two hundred and ninety-nine thousand naira (N86,658,299,000).

The budget, which was tagged: ” Budget of Reconstruction and consolidation of economic transformation”, is targeted at fostering unity and stimulating economic growth amongst the people of the state as well as other areas of the economy.

Speaking on the floor of the House of Assembly on Tuesday, Yobe state Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Geidam said, 66 percent of the budget representing N67,431,824,000 will go for capital projects, while 34 percent of the budget representing N35, 467,318,000 will go for recurrent expenditure.

Reviewing the 2013 budget, the governor said, despite all the set backs occasioned by continuous insecurity challenges in the state, the year 2013 had been very eventful for the government and people of Yobe state.

According to the governor, government during the year did not leave any sector unattended to. “2013 has been a year of calamity informed by insecurity challenges. We lost gallant and patriotic officers as well as innocent civilians amongst, which many of our young ones and students were also lost to activities of the insurgents while valued property were also lost. In spite of the security challenges, we have not lose focus as we continued to give our people the desired dividend of democracy. We hope that all the tribulations experienced during the year will be a thing of the past as we march towards greatness together, in the year ahead.”

Geidam said, it is the primary responsibility of both the executives and the legislators to work together towards improving on the lot of the people. He said the inability to attend to other needs as would be expected was informed by the security challenges, which has continued to bother on the state.

Speaking earlier, the speaker of the Yobe state House of Assembly, Hon. Adamu Dala Dogo commend the effort of the governor towards ensuring the return of peace in the state as well as appreciating the state INEC for a peaceful conduct of the local government election.

The speaker also assured the governor of the House’s continued support and commitment towards ensuring unity, peace and prosperity of the state.