ADDRESS DELIVERED BY HIS EXCELLENCY, THE GOVERNOR OF SOKOTO STATE, DR. AHMED ALIYU SOKOTO FCNA, AT THE PRESENTATION OF THE YEAR 2025 BUDGET TO THE SOKOTO STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY ON FRIDAY 29THNOVEMBER 2024.
BismillahirRahmanir Rahim. May the benediction and salutations of Allah continue to be upon our noble Prophet’ Muhammad ‘(SAW).
Fellow Citizens of Sokoto State, it is with gratitude to Almighty Allah, who in his infinite mercy and wisdom spares our lives to witness yet another milestone in our quest for a stronger, united and prosperous Sokoto State, as I today present the 2025 Budget for the consideration of this honourable house.
Mr Speaker, Honourable Members and indeed the good people of Sokoto State, we have every reason to thank Almighty Allah for giving us the opportunity on assumption in office to embarked upon execution of laudable programs and projects which have direct bearing to our people. I have to at this juncture, thank the Speaker and Honourable members of this hallowed Chamber for the speedy consideration and passage of all issues considered beneficial to the state brought before the house since our assumption. This has indeed gave us the opportunity to achieve this feat. our harmonious working relationship is worthy of commendation.
REVIEW OF YEAR 2024 BUDGET
The security challenges being experienced in some local Government Areas in the State remains our headache despite the tremendous achievements recorded in many of them. We are determined to bring about an accelerated economic growth and development within the shortest possible time, my administration remained focus on pursuit of required synergy and effective collaborations with all the Security outfits, traditional rulers, religious leaders and other key stakeholders in the state so as to nip in the bud all the security challenges bedevilling our rapid development as a State.
Mr. Speaker, Hon. Members, I ‘am to state here that, our effort towards tackling banditry is yielding positive results, as the successes recorded by our gallant security personnel is evidently very clear. This is as a result of our firm commitment to secure the state against all forms of criminality. To this end we have procured and distributed over 130 patrol vehicles to security agencies so as to enhance security operations in the state.
To complement the good effort of our conventional security agencies, we have established Community Guard corps, and provided them with all the necessary operational tools and logistics to enable them support the conventional security agencies in securing the lives and property of our populace. We have also supported the Nigeria Air force with logistic required for the operationalization of the Air force unit in Sokoto.
On the issue of promoting Islamic affairs, which is 2nd in my 9 point innovative smart agenda we have during the year under review, constructed and renovated many Mosques, in the state, provided them with boreholes, carpets as well solar system for the comfort of worshippers. We have also introduced monthly cash allocation to Juma’at Mosques amounting to N90,000,000 per month. We have allocated food and cash assistance to Imams, Deputy Imams and Muazzins as well as malaman zaure and grassroots preachers across the states.
We have also re-introduced, equipped, trained and operationalized the Hisbah board to address morale decadence and social vices in our society.
During the year under review we have constructed and lay asphalt over 30 township roads. All the roads were commissioned by eminent personalities while additional 40 are at various stages of completion and would soon be ready for commissioning.
In the area of housing, we are currently constructing 1000 Houses in Gidan salanke and Wajake, and have purchased 137 housing units built by the federal government in Kwannawa area
On the issue of accumulated Gratuity of over N15 billion which we inherited from the immediate past administration, I’m happy to inform you that we have changed that narrative, because i have since directed the release of 500 million naira monthly to settle the backlog of the unpaid Gratuity. Similarly, we set aside another 300 million naira monthly to pay those retiring during my tenure so that by the time we would have completed our tenure no retiree would be left unpaid.
Mr Speaker, Hon members, our urban renewal programme is moving smoothly with lots of successes being recorded. Sokoto city is now wearing a new look and very neat, solar powered streets lights are being fixed in the city and the entire 23 local government areas of the state.
Distinguished audience, it is a well-known fact that the recent removal of oil subsidy had worsen the hardship being faced by Nigerians, and in order to cushion the effect on our people, we purchased 110 mass transit Buses and Taxis cabs, for intra and intercity services in addition to 46 buses for Inter Local Government Mass Transit. Equally we have purchased 1000 motorcycles and 500 tricycles to be sold at a very subsidized rate.
Similarly, we have during the year under review, distributed a number of palliatives to people across the 23 local government areas of the state. To further bring more succour to our people, we have purchased 280 trucks of rice containing 168,000 bags at the cost of N 14.4 billion which is currently being sold at subsidized rates across the 244 wards of the state. And insha Allah this programme would be sustained.
On the issue of social welfare, we have restored the monthly allowances of our brothers and sisters with disabilities and have reviewed upwards the allowances from 6,500 to 10,000 naira. When we took over the affairs of this state, the monthly assistance had already been cancelled by the immediate past administration and Alhamdulillah it has now been restored.
On energy supply, which is the major driver of any economy, the present administration has awarded contracts for the completion of the inherited IPP project in the state. I’m optimistic that the project if completed would help in actualizing our dream of reviving our collapsed industries in the state. We have equally embarked on the reconnection of 8 local government areas that have been without light for close to a decade in the eastern zone of the state. This project has so far reached 80% stage of completion.
In the area of poverty reduction, I’m glad to inform you that, we have done excellently well in reducing idleness, as well as youth restiveness in our state. As at now, we have trained thousands of our Youths on many different skills. If you could recall, barely a week ago we graduated another set of 500 trainees who received training under the Department of Community Development under the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
Similarly, Government has provided livelihoods grants to Economically Active Households as well as the social cash transfer to the poor amongst us. We have so far documented 9,000 beneficiaries that will start receiving grants next week insha Allah.
On the Agricultural sector which is the major employer of labour in many parts of Northern Nigeria, we have distributed fertilizer, Herbicides, pesticides, farm implements such as the tiller machines, seedlings, and other farm inputs free to our farmers, in our attempt to support food production in the state and the country at large. Efforts are also on top gear to rehabilitate all our major irrigation sites such as Lugu Dam in Wurno and kware irrigation scheme. Contracts have already been awarded to that effect.
Distinguished audience, when we came on board, Sokoto and its environs were suffering from acute water shortage and the state water board was pumping untreated water to public taps because of lack of water treatment chemicals. Alhamdulillah that has become history. And to further ensure that we provide water to other areas of the states we have awarded contract for the completion of 4 major water schemes initiated by former Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko (Sarkin yakin Sokoto) namely Tamaje, Mana, Old airport and Rugar Liman areas, and are now at the stage of completion.
In the area of Rural development, we have awarded contracts for the construction of feeder roads in all the 3 senatorial zones in the states, most of which have been completed. We have equally installed solar powered streets lights in all the 23 local government areas of the state.
On Education, this administration had during the year under review, executed many projects that include, construction of schools renovation of the dilapidated structures, provision of instructional materials, payment of examination fees for the state indigenes, as well as furniture to many schools across the state. We have paid all the outstanding bills for local and international students of tertiary institutions.
Ladies and gentlemen, on the sector, we have sustained Health education, immunization against the communicable diseases, treatment, and disease control as well as provision of free medical care to our pregnant mothers and their children across the state.
YEAR 2025 BUDGET OUTLAY
Mr. Speaker, Honourable members; Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, in line with existing Budgetary Standards and prevailing fiscal projections, the 2025Budget stands at Five Hundred and Twenty Six Billion, Eight Hundred and Eighty two Million, One Hundred and Forty two Thousand, four Hundred and Eighty-Four Naira, Thirty nine Kobo (N 526,882,142,484.39).which is tagged “TRANSFORMATION AND INFRASTRUCTURAL SUSTAINABILITY BUDGET” The sum of One hundred and -Seventy-Six Billion, Two Hundred and Ninety Five Million, Six- Hundred and Two Thousand, One hundred and Thirty Naira, Fourteen Kobo (N 176,295,602,130.14) is for Recurrent, while Three Hundred and Forty-Nine Billion, Three Hundred and Eighty Six Million, Five Hundred and Forty Thousand, Three Hundred and Fifty Four Naira, Twenty Five Kobo (N349,386,540,354.25) is for Capital Expenditure. This translates into Capital projects taking the largest share of 66% of the total budget while 44% goes to recurrent comprising of new Minimum wage for State Workers, payment of pension and gratuity for our Senior Citizens as well as Overhead cost of running Government. In the same vein, education sector gets the highest allocation of 25% of the 2025 budget which is followed by the Health sector. The Highlights of the Budget are as follows:-
Item 2025 Draft Budget (Post MDA Bi-Lateral)
Opening Balance 112,607,763,065.21
Recurrent Revenue 258,946,298,906.89
Government Share of FAAC 216,502,103,077.49
Independent Revenue 42,444,195,829.40
Recurrent Expenditure 176,295,602,130.14
PERSONNEL COST 64,661,091,739.44
Other Recurrent Costs, of which: 111,634,510,390.70
Other Non-Debt Recurrent 86,265,147,352.31
Debt Service 25,369,363,038.39
Transfer to Capital Account 195,258,459,841.96
Other Receipts 154,128,080,512.29
Aid and Grants 14,672,222,781.12
Capital Development Fund (Cdf) Receipts 139,455,857,731.17
Capital Expenditure (Capital Expenditure) 349,386,540,354.25
Total Revenue (including OB) 525,682,142,484.39
Total Expenditure 526,882,142,484.39
CONCLUSION
Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen; I am indeed highly grateful to Honourable Members for your kind audience and for allowing me to discharge this statutory responsibility. I sincerely cherish your diligence and commitment to the overall development of our dear State.
I am also profoundly thankful to all key functionaries across the arms of Government for their support and co-operation. No doubt, our modest successes in all areas of human endeavours speak volume of the efforts and sacrifices of all public functionaries, serving our State, in different capacity. I thank you individually and severally for your unwavering support and dedication. I also sincerely cherish the immense support and goodwill of our Royal Fathers, Elder statesmen, Religious Leaders for the tremendous goodwill our administration has been enjoying. I dare say that the support I have enjoyed from the people of Sokoto State is outstanding one in the history of democratic governance.
I would not conclude my speech without expressing my sincere appreciation to civil servants of the state for their support to the present administration. It is in this regard, I feel highly delighted to announce that we will implement new minimum wage of N70,000 by January 2025, InshaAllah.
Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to inform you that of all the projects we have executed, we did not borrow a single kobo from any financial institutions and to date, we are not owing any contractor in the state.
Mr. Speaker, Honourable members, fellow citizens of Sokoto State, it is my pleasure to present the 2025 Budget Estimates for the consideration of the Honourable Members. May Allah (SWT) continue to guide us in all our endeavours, Amin.
Thank you and WassalamuAlaikum.
