Tambuwal Assents N204bn 2017 Budget

Mohammed Aminu in Sokoto

Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, has assented to the state’s 2017 appropriation bill of over N 204 billion.

Speaking at the event in Sokoto at the weekend, Tambuwal promised to ensure the performance of the budget well above that of 2016.

“The 2017 budget will be better than 2016 in terms of implementation,while even distribution of resources will be ensured.

“Several projects will now begin to spring up across the state, while emphasis would be on the rural areas,” Tambuwal stated.

The governor disclosed that the state government had recently restructured the Board of Internal Revenue to generate more internally generated revenue.

“The former leadership of the Board had performed below expectations,hence the restructuring became imperative.

“We are not however going to introduce new unbearable taxes,yet the residents of the state should strive to pay all due revenues and taxes.

“We are assuring the judicious utilization of all revenues in the best interest of the people,”the governor emphasised.

According to him, there were some serious daunting economic challenges in the country, yet, the payment of salaries have been prompt.

He pointed out that the payment of pensions and gratuities to state government retirees has been regular while the tempo would be sustained.
He announced that the Auditor-General for Local Governments is currently working on the records to effect the payment of outstanding pensions and gratuities of retirees in local government areas.

Tambuwal to this end, commended the state Legislators for the speedy passage of the budget and promised that the cordial relationship between the executive and the judiciary would be sustained.

In his remark, the Speaker of the Sokoto House of Assembly, Alhaji Salihu Maidaji, said the state legislature had passed the bill into law on February 8.

He lauded the existing cordial relationship between the legislative and executive arms of government in the state.

Maidaji however, stressed the need for improved internal revenue generation in view of the dwindling oil revenues.

Tambuwal had on December 29,2016, presented the budget estimate of the state to the Assembly amounting to over N 204 billion while 27 per cent of it was allocated to the education sector.