*State Lawmakers applaud Governor Inuwa Yahaya over 2023 budget performance
By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya CON, has signed the Gombe State 2024 Appropriation Bill into law amounting to Two Hundred and Eight Billion, Sixty-Four Million Naira (N208,064,000,000.00) as passed by the Gombe State House of Assembly.
According to a statement signed by the Director-General (Press Affairs)
Government House Gombe, Ismaila Uba Misilli, the signing of the budget was performed by the Governor on Friday at a brief ceremony held at the Council Chamber of the Government House, Gombe.
The House of Assembly has increased the budget size by Three Hundred Million Naira (N300,000,000.00) from the initial proposal submitted by Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, which was Two Hundred and Seven Billion, Seven Hundred and Fifty Million, Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N207,750,200,000.00).
The break down of the budget indicates an allocation of 58% for capital expenditure and 42%, for recurrent, indicating a rise in the capital expenditure for the first time in the budget of the state.
Performing the ceremony, Governor Inuwa Yahaya commended the lawmakers for the expeditious passage of the appropriation bill, appreciating the longstanding collaboration between the executive and legislative arms, particularly in maintaining the January to December budget cycle.
“Let me commend the leadership and members of the House of Assembly, especially the House Committee on Appropriations for the enormous work done to ensure the expeditious passage of the appropriation bill. The speedy passage of the bill reaffirmed the harmonious relationship between the executive and the legislative arms”, the Governor said.
“Since our assumption of office during our first tenure in 2019, the House of Assembly has always been cooperative. The lawmakers have never failed to act on our requests for passage of annual or supplementary budgets, and on all other requests that needed the approval of the House. We are grateful for the support of the House to our leadership”, the Governor added.
Governor Inuwa further emphasized his commitment to continued synergy with the lawmakers towards providing effective leadership for the betterment of the citizen and fostering economic development and prosperity in the state.
He said the 2024 budget, tagged ‘Budget of Continuity and Consolidation’ will leverage on the gains of the previous budgets, maintaining that the Appropriation Act has resources allocated for increased infrastructure, enhanced healthcare services, improved education, human capital development, and job creation, among other priorities.
Speaking at the event, the Speaker of the Gombe State House of Assembly, Rt.Hon. Mohammed Abubakar Luggerewo, commended Governor Inuwa Yahaya on the 2023 budget performance, assuring continued legislative support to ensure that the 2024 budget surpasses that of the 2023 in terms of performance.
“As we present the approved 2023 appropriation bill for the Governor’s assent, I want to express the gratitude of all Honorable Members of the State House of Assembly to His Excellency for the budget items. The budget reflects the Governor’s commitment to the well-being of Gombe people. It is based on this that we recognize crucial areas needing attention and augmented the budget by 300 million Naira”, the Speaker remarked.
The Deputy Governor, Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau, lawmakers, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, Head of Service, Alh. Ahmed Kasimu Abdullahi, Commissioners and other top government functionaries were also at the Council Chamber to witness the signing of the budget.
