The Niger State government says it has selected 69 major projects which will be executed with funding from the 2023 budget appropriation which was recently presented before the State House of Assembly for approval.
Commissioner and Deputy Chairman for the Ministry of Planning Commission, Zakari Abubakar made this disclosure on Friday at a town hall meeting organized by the Niger State Planning Commission and the State House of Assembly Committee on Appropriation in Minna.
Abubakar noted that over N80 billion is expected to be borrowed consisting of N63.28 billion from external and N16.97 billion internal borrowing to finance the next year budget hence the state is comfortable and sustainable in the repayment.
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He revealed that the government has prioritized within the 2023 budget, the construction of rural access roads, education, health and improvement of social sectors, with youths and women empowerment not left out.
Also to be focused upon is the renovation of public buildings.
Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger State who was represented by the Deputy Governor Ahmed Ketso, applauded the State Assembly for approving the public meeting to enhance accountability, inclusiveness and participatory democracy.
He stated that the 2023 budget is a “people’s priority budget” that has the inputs of the citizens to achieve priority spending as recommended for democratic responsiveness.
The House of Assembly Committee chairman for planning and appropriation, Bashir Lokogoma decried the poor Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state, urging the state planning commission to look into the state’s IGR with all seriousness as to bridge the gap.
In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary Planning Commission, Ramatu Umar described the town hall meeting as the first of it’s kind in Niger State’s history.
She stressed the need for the Niger people to contribute positively to ensure a successful running of the state.
Present at the meeting were members of various NGO’s including the representatives of Etsu Nupe and Chairman Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, as well as the Wamban Nupe, Engineer Ndagi Aliyu; they all offered great advices on the way forward for the state.
