The Borno State Government has proposed a 2019 budget of about 126 billion Naira for its recurrent and capital expenditures.
The budget tagged “budget of consolidation”, is the last by the Governor Kashim Shettima administration.
Governor Shettima, who presented the proposal, told members of the Borno State House of Assembly that the financing of the budget shall be from internally generated revenue of about N17.5 billion, federation account allocation – N87 billion, and capital receipt of about N21.5 billion.
He put the total capital expenditure at N62 billion, while recurrent is N63.8 billion.
“…the 2019 budget size is less than that of last year by N56,000,204,000 representing about 30.80%. This is in view of our desire to have a realistic budget.”
Sectoral allocations showed education, which has suffered setbacks from insurgency, as top priority.
A combination of allocations to the Education Ministry, higher, and the universal basic education put together, is the largest – N22.5b, representing about 18% of the total appropriated for capital and recurrent expenditures.
Health follows with N15.1 billion, representing about 12%.
Works and transport has N7bn, while the Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement Ministry will gulp N5.7bn.
Governor Shettima explained that his administration is laying a solid foundation, in what he called, mega primary schools, which are complete with state of the art modern technology, billed for commissioning in February.
The policy is expected to transform the basic school system, and bridge the gap created by the insurgency.
“… In pursuance of this objective, government, in the coming year, intends to establish an agency to be known as Borno State Mega Schools Management Board. The primary objective of this agency is to, among other things, set standards.”
The Governor, who reviewed the performance of his administration in the preceding fiscal year, said government believes it’s better to produce qualitative graduates, than produce semi-illiterates, who cannot add value to society.