Borno approves N204bn for 2014 fiscal year

The Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima yesterday signed the state's 2014 appropriation bill into law. The governor had on December 31, 2013 sent an appropriation bill of N176 billion to the House of Assembly, but the lawmakers raised the budget by N28 billion to the aforementioned amount.

The Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Abdulkarim Lawan who led some lawmakers to the Government House for the budget signing ceremony, disclosed that the budget was increased in order to make the government meet some earlier commitment. He said the entire House sat with the committees on budget and finance and came up with the new figure when the found out that the governor’s commitment to build some schools and roads were not captured in the appropriation bill. He told the governor that: “We found out that your promise to build roads and secondary schools during your visit to some local government areas was not captured, so we decided to increase it to N204 billion.”

He called on the governor to do everything within his power to achieve optimal performance of the budget. He said they have done their part by passing the bill into law and the rest of the job is for the executive to ensure it is perfectly executed. Responding, the governor said the state has witnessed another milestone in its annals with the signing of the 2014 appropriation bill into law.

He commended the legislature for not only the quick discharge of their duty in passing the bill but also for their cooperation with the executive.

Shettima said “It is worthy of note and being copying by other state the relationship existing between the three arms of government in Borno. We have excellent working relationship with the legislators.”

He disclosed that the budget would target the provision of needed infrastructure and alleviating the poverty in the state. The governor had last December said: 'Borno is our pride, Borno is our heritage, we all own Borno and we have an obligation to work for its progress. When we work for Borno's progress, we work for no other but ourselves.'