By Inusa Ndahi, Maiduguri
Borno State government has warned Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, to desist from spending outside of their budgetary provisions, as defaulters would definitely face the full wrath of the Civil Service Law.
This was even as Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, said his administration had already relocated and resettled about 2.5 million internally displaced persons, IDPs, back to their ancestral homes with dignity, adding that efforts will be intensified to ensure that the remaining 1.5 million victims are fully resettled to pick up the pieces of their lives before the end of this year.
This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Dr. Babagana Mallumbe, during a ministerial press briefing for 2024 approved budget which was assented to by Governor Zulum.
The occasion which took place on Monday at the International Conference Hall, Musa Usman Secretariat Maiduguri, had in attendance serving and former commissioners and heads of MDAs, among other stakeholders.
The commissioner said the 2024 Approved Budget, is on accrual basis, tagged ‘ Budget of Consolidation and Progress,’ which stood at N358.732 billion, with an adjustment amounting to N18.1 billion
With the increase in the budget size, Malumbe explained that the revised capital expenditure now stands at over N208.4 billion, while the revised recurrent expenditure is N150.4 billion respectively.
He said, “Our 2024 budget tagged: Consolidation and Progress,’ stood at N358,732,146,000.00, with an adjustment amounting to N18.1 billion
“With the increase in the budget size, the revised capital expenditure now stands at over N208.4 billion, while the revised recurrent expenditure is N150.4 billion respectively.
“I am happy to inform this gathering that Borno State government achieved over 74 per cent budget performance last year, and we are targeting over 80 per cent this year 2024.
“This could be attested to by the numerous people-oriented projects executed in the area of healthcare, such as construction and equipping of hospitals and clinics, agricultural modernization, youths empowerment and jobs creation, Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement, RRR, roads and drainage constructions, construction of mega schools, skills acquisition centres and others too numerous to mention.
“The 2024 budget is essentially aimed at sustaining these noticeable gains of the developmental efforts under the leadership of Governor Zulum’s policy thrust of good governance and accountability.
“It is saddled with government’s commitment in building on the foundation laid in the previous years; which marks a significant step forward in the shared journey towards achieving long-term goals, as the state government will continue to strengthen fiscal discipline, invest in key infrastructure projects, and implement reforms that create a more enabling environment for businesses and individuals to thrive, and to bridge the gap between opportunity and disadvantage.
“Let me use this opportunity to enjoin all stakeholders, particularly heads of MDAs for the noble and sustained efforts of the present administration to key in for better Borno.
“It is in light of the foregoing that attention of all accounting officers is drawn to adherence and operating strictly in accordance with the laid down rules and regulations.
“Therefore, all stakeholders must desist from spending out of their budgetary provisions, as defaulters would definitely face the full wrath of the Civil Service Law.
“In addition, all request for funds either in form of memo or otherwise must be covered by approved provisions and balance of the budget.”
