As Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya presents N207,750,200,000 budget for 2024 to the Gombe State House of Assembly, health and education sectors got 2.9% and 3.9% falling short of UNESCO declaration.
Speaking at the presentation, Governor Yahaya said the health sector was allocated the sum of N5.953bn only, representing 2.9% of the budget, while the basic education sector was allocated N8.103bn only, 3.9% of the total budget.
The works and infrastructure got the largest share of N50.962bn (24.5%), followed by agriculture and animal husbandry with allocation of N7.366bn, higher education was allocated N5.768bn (2.8%), youth and sport development N2.460bn, and internal security and home affairs–N550 million.
Both allocations to health and education sectors fall short of UNESCO and Abuja Declaration, where 15% and 15-20% of total budget allocation is recommended for the health and education sector, respectively.
In the budget tagged, “Budget of Continuity and Consolidation,” Yahaya said N87, 250,200,000 was earmarked for recurrent (42%) and N120,500,000,000 (58%) for capital expenditure.
He said the budget would be financed by estimated recurrent revenue of N121.911 billion and capital receipts of N138.911 billion, with an estimated closing balance of N18.411billion.
The governor said the 2024 budget was crafted with a keen understanding of local, national and global economic realities in order to develop and implement policies and programmes that are strategic, forward-looking and people-oriented.
He added that the 2023 budget performance as of September 30 was 57.4. per cent.
“We envisage to generate the sum of N121,911,945,500.00 only as recurrent revenues, and the sum of N138,911,745,500.00 only as capital receipts. Our estimated closing balance for 2023 is expected to be N18,411,745,500.00 only,” he said.
The governor called on the legislators to scrutinise the budget and provide constructive insights that will enrich the document and enhance its impacts on the lives and livelihoods of people and other residents of the state.
Speaker Abubakar Mohammed Luggerewo, assured the governor that the budget would be given accelerated attention and passed within the expected timeframe.
“I have no doubt that we will deliver the budget in good time to the development of our people. We are highly satisfied with your 2023 budget performance,” he said.
The speaker commended the governor for the construction of roads, schools and health centres, adding that his support had improved the executive-judiciary relationship.
