Niger Govt presents N128bn budget for 2018

NIGER State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, yesterday, presented
a budget of N128 billion budget for 2018 fiscal year to the state
house of assembly.

It is N16 billion or 16.62 per cent higher than that of
2016.

The Governor, while presenting the estimate before the Niger
State House of Assembly, in Minna, yesterday, christened, “the
peoples budget,” which he said was aimed at “reconnecting with the
ordinary citizens.”

He said: “The state government decided to hike the 2018 budget
from that of last year, which was N109 bilion, because of the
relative peace in the Niger Delta and the upward swing in the oil
price in the international market, with the fact that the country
is technically out of recession.”

While giving the breakdown, the Governor said recurrent
expenditure would gulp over N52 billion, representing about 40.7
per cent of the total revenue projection, while capital project
would cost over N75 billion, representing about 59.8 percent of the
budget.

Bello said the budget would be financed through statutory
allocations, which would account for about 57.6 billion expected as
capital receipt; value added tax, to contribute over N9 billion,
Paris refund, to fund over N10 billion and internally generated
revenue, which would cover over N11 billion of the budget
estimate.

Other sources of funding the budget include, cash receipt of N35
billion and Pension reduction to cover over N10 billion .

Highlighting the budget, the Governor disclosed that the state
government would spend N44 billion on the Economic sector, with
Agriculture receiving top priority as the administration would
ensure that 200 hectares of land would be cleared for the State
accelerated Agriculture scheme aimed at upgrading of farm centres
at Tegina, Gwada and Nasko with modern farming implements.

“Under the agricultural empowerment programme, the Tegina, kuta,
Nasko and Bida farm Institutes will be equipped to better train our
youths on modern farming methods,” the Governor remarked.

.On Education, the Governor said,”our tertiary Institutions will
receive attention to meet accreditation requirements. The
renovation of six Vocational, Science and Technical schools in
Bida, Suleja, Kontagora, Jebba, Rijau and Minna will be given
priority and will gulp N2.5 billion.”

He also said that Science equipments would be provided to these
Schools at a cost of N100million the year under review.

NIGER State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, yesterday, presented
a budget of N128 billion budget for 2018 fiscal year to the state
house of assembly.

It is N16 billion or 16.62 per cent higher than that of
2016.

The Governor, while presenting the estimate before the Niger
State House of Assembly, in Minna, yesterday, christened, “the
peoples budget,” which he said was aimed at “reconnecting with the
ordinary citizens.”

He said: “The state government decided to hike the 2018 budget
from that of last year, which was N109 bilion, because of the
relative peace in the Niger Delta and the upward swing in the oil
price in the international market, with the fact that the country
is technically out of recession.”

While giving the breakdown, the Governor said recurrent
expenditure would gulp over N52 billion, representing about 40.7
per cent of the total revenue projection, while capital project
would cost over N75 billion, representing about 59.8 percent of the
budget.

Bello said the budget would be financed through statutory
allocations, which would account for about 57.6 billion expected as
capital receipt; value added tax, to contribute over N9 billion,
Paris refund, to fund over N10 billion and internally generated
revenue, which would cover over N11 billion of the budget
estimate.

Other sources of funding the budget include, cash receipt of N35
billion and Pension reduction to cover over N10 billion .

Highlighting the budget, the Governor disclosed that the state
government would spend N44 billion on the Economic sector, with
Agriculture receiving top priority as the administration would
ensure that 200 hectares of land would be cleared for the State
accelerated Agriculture scheme aimed at upgrading of farm centres
at Tegina, Gwada and Nasko with modern farming implements.

“Under the agricultural empowerment programme, the Tegina, kuta,
Nasko and Bida farm Institutes will be equipped to better train our
youths on modern farming methods,” the Governor remarked.

.On Education, the Governor said,”our tertiary Institutions will
receive attention to meet accreditation requirements. The
renovation of six Vocational, Science and Technical schools in
Bida, Suleja, Kontagora, Jebba, Rijau and Minna will be given
priority and will gulp N2.5 billion.”

He also said that Science equipments would be provided to these
Schools at a cost of N100million the year under review.