The Borno State Government has allocated 18.3bn to COVID-19 response in its revised budget.
The Commissioner of Finance, Adamu Lawan, disclosed when he presented a breakdown of the revised budget to journalists on Tuesday.
He explained that the reduction in non-essential overheads and capital expenditures proportionate to the amount of the revenue reduction and the additional COVID-19 responsive expenditures.
The amount represents 17.5 of the total expenditure of the revised budget which includes grants and supports the state government expects in its coffers from donors.
The commissioner further noted that the allocation of expenditures to COVID-19 programs for crisis and recovery amounts to N18,342,000,000 representing 17.5 percent of the total amended budget expenditures.
Grants and support for an effective response to the pandemic in the revised budget is estimated at N8,910,000,000.”
According to him, the revised budget is to reshape the priorities of the government for effective and efficient implementation and good governance in the face of the COVID 19 pandemic.
“The Original budget is tagged “budget of recovery and stabilization” Wedged on rebuilding of infrastructure and resettlement of IDPS, restoration of peace, agricultural transformation and job creation.”.
The expenditure performance achieved for capital projects in which the rebuilding thrust of the initial budget falls at only 8% in the first half of the year.
