2022: Borno Speaker assures of speedy passage of Appropriation Bill

2022: Borno Speaker assures of speedy passage of Appropriation Bill

By: James Bwala, Maiduguri

Speaker Borno State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Abdulkarim Lawan, has assured that the   N267 billion  2022 Appropriation Bill presented on Tuesday would receive speedy passage in order to fast track reconstruction of destroyed infrastructures and to ensure smooth resettlement Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs.

This is also to ensure that millions of Internally Displaced Persons, who are currently being  relocated to their ancestral homes get better accommodation upon their return as the government of Borno state embarked on closure of IDP camps across the state.

Hon. Lawan, while speaking to newsmen in Maiduguri said the  quick passage of the proposed budget would also encourage meaningful development at all levels.

According to him, the cordial relationship existing between the executives and the legislature, will ensure that the budget is passed and presented to the  governor for assent in the next three weeks.

He described the 2022 Appropriation Bill christened ‘Budget of Hope for Post-Conflict Stability” as the best of its kind that would salvage Borno people from shackles of insecurity, poverty, unemployment and underdevelopment mostly caused by the over decade atrocities posed by insurgents.

“If you study this year’s budget presented by His Excellency, Governor Babagana Zulum, it will interest you to know that the lion share was allocated to the Education sector with a sum of over N38 billion. This will lead to construction of more classroom blocks, purchase of instructional materials and improve the welfare of teachers across the state.

“The sum of over N30 billion was proposed to the finance sector, this will enable the government to settle all the outstanding gratuities of pensioners and guarantee prompt payment of salaries, pensions and allowances of civil servants across the state.

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“Other critical sectors like the Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement were allocated the sum of N23.8 billion, while over N3 billion was allocated to the newly established Borno State Security Trust Fund (BSSTF). This present administration created the BSSTF as a Board to address security challenges bedevilling our state. This will provide funds for acquisition and deployment of security equipment across the state.

“The health sector has also gotten a boost, as the Sum of N24,274,696,0000 billion was proposed, while the ministry of works got over N22 billion respectively among other sectors.” Lawan stated.

He also said the House would take special focus on security of the state in the 2022 budget, but added that this would be in consideration with the governor’s focus and plans for the year ahead.

“It is visible to everyone in Borno that the government of the state has continued, doggedly, to put smiles on the faces of our people.

“It simply means we have been able to gather all we can irrespective of the revenue challenge in the projection we had for 2021,” the Speaker said.

He applauded the governor for executing numerous people oriented projects, and for maintaining a cordial relationship with the legislature which has led to transparency, accountability and good governance. 

Lawan however called on the people of the state to continue pray for total restoration of peace and give their maximum support to the present administration under the leadership of governor Zulum

2022: Borno Speaker assures of speedy passage of Appropriation Bill