Governor Yahaya Bello has presented a budget proposal of N130.5 billion as against N122.9 billion of the Amended Budget for year 2020 as the 2021 budget to the Kogi State House of Assembly.
The presentation was made on Tuesday in Lokoja.
The 2021 appropriation bill christened “Budget of Accelerated Recovery” represents an increase of N7,575,110,017 or 6.16% when compared with the 2020 final budget.
During the budget presentation, the Governor stated that the fiscal strategy of Government was anchored on the on-going Public Financial Management Reform (PFM).
He explained that the 2021 proposed budget was carefully crafted to urgently address the pressing issues of internal security, food security and economic empowerment in the state.
He added that his administration seek to eliminate waste of government funds and resources which might have eluded them in time past while blocking any remaining leakages in its IGR portfolio.
Governor Bello stated his administration will aggressively pursue repayment of debt owned the state by the federal government, reduced cost of governance and provide more justification for the state’s development partners across the world to contribute to the state’s economy.
Governor Bello commended the House for approving the revised 2020 – 2022 medium Term Expenditure Frameworks, Fiscal strategy paper and the passage of the revised 2020 appropriation bill into law in record time to ameliorate distractions from the Covid-19 pandemic to the state’s fiscal positions.
He said the 2021 budget will prioritize payment of workers’ salaries, completion of on-going projects and introduction of important infrastructures.
Governor Bello noted that the 2021 budget objectives includes quality and affordable education, improve quality access to healthcare, food security, exploring full commercial potential of the state, gainful employment for youths, improved road networks.
He urged the House to ensure speedy passage of the budget so as to facilitate prompt implementation by the executive arm.
In his welcome remark, the Speaker Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mathew Kolawole lauded Governor Bello’s resolve to take a stand against lockdown at the peak of Covid-19 pandemic, noting that such decision helped stabilized the state’s economy.
He noted that as co-managers of the economy they would continue to perform their duty and facilitate accountability and probity in the implementation of the budget.
He called on ministries, departments and agencies of government to promptly appear before the respective committees when called upon for defense.
