Gaidam proposes N102.8b budget for 2014

Governor Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe State on Tuesday proposed a budget of N102,899 billion for 2014 to the state House of Assembly.
In his addres to the legislators in Damaturu, the state capital, Gaidam said the budget represented was an increase of more than N16 billion over the 2013 appropriation.
He said the budget was aimed at consolidating the socio-economic transformation of the state, adding that a large percentage of the proposed expenditure was to be spent on capital projects.
He said: “Government intends to devote the sum of N67,431,824,000 or 66 per cent, to finance its capital expenditure, while the sum of N35,467,318,000 or 34 per cent will be earmarked for recurrent expenditure.
“This is due to the fact that we have worked out this budget very meticulously.”
The governor added that the policy thrust of the budget was to provide the opportunity to continue to implement numerous strategies for enhancing multi-sectorial development and facilitating the socio-economic transformation of the state.
Gaidam said: “We will continue to give focus to addressing basic areas of need for fulfilling the yearnings and aspirations of our people as well as rehabilitation of the public structures affected by the violent acts of the insurgents.”
Gaidam said the budget would also cover the various socio-economic sectors of the state, including health, education, housing, environmental protection, agriculture and security.
He said the state government would further explore the potentials that abound in the state and woo more investors through the Public Private-Sector Partnership for project initiation, implementation and management.