The Niger State Government on Thursday said a budget proposal of over N59.2 billion for the 25 local government councils in the state for the recurrent and capital expenditure this year will be presented to the House of Assembly for their approval.
About N48.8 billion of the amount will be sourced from the Statutory Allocation, while Value Added Tax will generate N6.8 billion and N900,000,000 will come in from10 per cent of the state’s Internally Generated Revenue.
The local government areas Internally Generated Revenue will bring in N638.9 million and the Sure-P will bring in N2.1 billion.
The Commissioner overseeing the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Abdullahi Bawa Wuse, who disclosed this to newsmen in Minna, said that the budget proposal will be presented to the House of Assembly for their approval.
Wuse, who was represented at the news briefing by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Alhaji Mohammed Rijau, said the total recurrent expenditure of the budget is N41.5 billion our of which personnel cost will gulp N15.9 billion, over head cost N8.3 billionn and consolidated fund charges N17.2 billion.
He added: “The capital expenditure of N17.790 billion is made up of counterpart funding N6.556 billionn, Sure-P N2.152 billion and distributable capital is N9.081 billion.
“The Economic sector will gulp N2.724 billion, social sector N1.543 billion and Area Development Sector N1,997.9 biilion, while the administration sector will consume N2.088 billion and loan repayment N726.541.879 million.
“”In view of the fall in the price of crude in the international market, some belt tightening measures have been taken to ensure smooth implementation of the budget, among which is the ban on acquisition of loans either from commercial banks or individuals and reduction of overhead costs to the barest minimum.
“In this regard, expenditure on vehicles, duty tour allowances hospitality and entertainments must be curtailed.”
Wuse further stated that only ongoing projects should be completed while new jobs should not be started unless clearance is got from the Governor Babangida Aliyu, adding that Direct Labour projects must be executed strictly on the basis of the provisions of the relevant sections of the financial regulations.