By Abu Micheal, Lokoja.
From a budget of Transformation in 2013, to that of Reality in 2014, Stability in 2015 and now to Consolidation in 2016, Capt Idris Wada has always had the fervent belief that budget must clearly be indicative of the state’s sincere and frank assessment of the amount the state can generate on her own in addition to what is obtainable from the federation account and other sundry sources.
Since assumption as governor, Capt Wada has ensured that the state’s budget is prepared in line with international best practices.
The 2016 budget presented by the governor to the Members of the Kogi State House of Assembly, was prepared in line with the Charts of Accounts, ( International Public Sector Accounting Standard).
The 2016 draft budget of N74,996,241,381 is divided into recurrent expenditure of N45,337,756,341 representing 60.45% and Capital Expenditure of N29,658,485,040 representing 39.55%.
The sectoral breakdown of the 2016 budget shows that Road development would gulp N7,617billion, Health Sector, N3,37billion, Education N2,365billion, Law and Justice N2,245billion, Water sector N2,133billion and Agriculture N1,189billion.
The recurrent revenue is estimated at N49,474billion consisting of N7,854billion from internal sources, N33,700billion as state’s share from the federation account and N7,920billion revenue from Value Added Tax.
The 2016 budget with an estimated revenue of N74,996,241,381 and estimated expenditure of N74,996,241,381 is a balance budget of N74,996,241,381.
The objectives of the year 2016 budget as stated by the governor is predicated on effective allocation of scarce resources to identified critical programmes and projects which include completing all on going projects and adding of new ones in the critical area of need.
The budget also seeks to expand internally generated revenue, ensure transparency and proper accountability, produce a conducive environment for investors, donor agencies to operate in the state and to reduce the level of domestic debt profile of the state.
The 2016 budget took into cognizance the fall in the international price of oil, oil theft, loss of the nations traditional oil buyers, new discovery of alternative sources of energy and high production output of crude oil by OPEC member countries forcing the price of oil downward.
2015 no doubt was a challenging year for the state as the proposed monthly IGR target of N1billion was not realized. Monthly IGR stood at between N500million and N600million. But in all of these challenges, the state still carried out some projects/programmes as highlighted below.
In the Health Sector, courses at the State College of Nursing and Midwifery Obangede were re-accredited. Other projects executed in that sector are the completion and renovation of Anti-Natal family planning Unit and Mortuary Block at the Idah General Hospital. Construction of Diagonistic Centre Phase 11, Lokoja, Renovation of Zonal Hospital Dekina, Ankpa, Kabba and Cottage and General Hospitals in Ogodu, Ogori.
Other projects are the Emergency Intervention Fund for KSU Teaching Hospital, Anyigba as well as supply/installation of medical Radiological and Surgical Equipments at the Zonal Hospitals across the state.
Similarly, 2015 budget ensured the renovation of Zonal Hospitals Okene, Construction of 40 beds Cottage Hospital Ihima as well as Kpareke and the Completion of Ultra Modern General Hospital Odu Ogboyaga.
Under the Rural Electrification Sector in 2015, the government embarked on the rehabilitation of Substation at Adavi Ipaku, Electrification project at Oworo Estate, Felele, Rehabilitation of Electrification in Ojuwo-Olijo, Electrification at Egbechi Community Okene. Other projects are replacement of Transformers in several communities as well as stepping down of transformers in other communities across the state.
The 2015 budget also witnessed the completion of embankment for greater Lokoja Water Supply Scheme, Construction of Motorized boreholes, Rehabilitation/Resuscitation of various Water schemes across the state in addition to provision of over thirty water rural communities under the Rural Water Supply Scheme Agency(RUWASSA).
In 2015, Roads in Ankpa, Ageva/Ogori, Idah/Onyedega, Okura Township, Otukpa Junction/Ojokwu/Ajobe/Okaba, Shintaku/Odugbo/Mozum, Ponyana-Irele and the construction of Ultra-Modern Motor Park, Felele, Lokoja were completed.
Twenty other road projects across the state are ongoing, with projects as the government printing press, supply of brand new digital transmitters and studio equipments in Otite, Egbe and Ochaja in the Ministry of Information were completed.
Amidst lean financial resources that acrued to the state government in 2015, work is ongoing on the Kogi Hotels Redevelopment, Construction of 11 storey Kogi House, Abuja, 500 Housing Schemes and the Geographical Information System Phase 11.
From the lessons gathered from the precarious economic challenges resulting from the decline in revenue to the state in 2015, the 2016 budget of Consolidation, reviewed downward the 2015 budget by N13billion in line with prevailing economic realities in the country, is no doubt a proposal that would accelerate development.
Despite the economic environment of anxiety, uncertainty, amidst expectation of quick results, the discipline, honesty and transparency of governance on which Capt Wada has premised the 2016 budget, if approved, would no doubt consolidate on the gains the state has made in the last four years in all areas and to further propel the state to another level of development.
– Abu Micheal is Chief Press Secretary, Kogi State Deputy Governor.
