Borno Govt Warns MDAs Over Spending Out Of Budget Provisions, Gives Nod To Relocate IDPs Back Home.

Borno Govt Warns MDAs over spending out of Budget Provisions, gives nod to relocate IDPs back home.

By Salihu Inusa, Maiduguri

Borno State Government has warned Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to desist from spending out of their budgetary provisions, as defaulters would definitely face the full wrath of the Civil Service Law.

This is even as Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, has said, his administration had already relocated and resettled about 2.5 million Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs back to their ancestral homes with dignity, and that efforts will be intensified to ensure that the remaining 1.5 million victims are fully resettled to pick up their pieces before the end of this year.

This was disclosed by the Commissioner of Budget and Planning, Dr. Babagana Mallumbe during ministerial Press Briefing for 2024 Approved Budget which was assented to by Governor Zulum.

The occasion which took place on Monday at the International Conference Hall, Musa Usman Secretariat Maiduguri, had in attendance serving and former Commissioners and heads of MDAs among other stakeholders.

The Commissioner said the 2024 Approved Budget, is on accrual basis, tagged ‘ Budget of Consolidation and Progress’, which stood at N358,732,146,000.00 billion, with an adjustment amounting to N18.1 billion

With the increase in the budget size, Malumbe explained that the revised capital expenditure now stands at over N208.4 billion, while the revised recurrent expenditure is N150.4 billion respectively.

His words: ” Our 2024 Budget tagged: Consolidation and Progress’, stood at N358,732,146,000.00 billion, with an adjustment amounting to N18.1 billion

“With the increase in the budget size, the revised capital expenditure now stands at over N208.4 billion, while the revised recurrent expenditure is N150.4 billion respectively.

“I am happy to inform this gathering that Borno State Government has achieved over 74% Budget Performance last year, and we are targeting over 80% this year 2024.

“This could be attested to the numerous people oriented projects executed in the area of healthcare such as construction and equipping of hospitals and clinics, agricultural modernization, Youths empowerment and jobs creation, Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RRR), roads and drainage constructions, Construction of Mega Schools, Skills Acquisition Centres and too numerous to mention.

“The 2024 budget is essentially aimed at sustaining these noticeable gains of the developmental efforts under the leadership of Governor Zulum’s policy thrust of good governance and accountability.

“It is saddled with Government’s commitment in Building on the foundation laid in the previous years; which marks a significant step forward in the shared journey towards achieving long-term goals, as the State Government will continue to strengthen fiscal discipline, invest in key infrastructure projects, and implement reforms that create a more enabling environment for businesses and individuals to thrive , and to bridge the gap between opportunity and disadvantage.

“Let me use this opportunity to enjoin all stakeholders, particularly heads of MDAs for the noble and sustained efforts of the present administration to key in for better Borno.

“It is in light of the foregoing that attention of all Accounting Officers is drawn to adhere and operate strictly in accordance with the laid down rules and regulations.

“Therefore, all stakeholders must desist from spending out of their budgetary provisions, as defaulters would definitely face the full wrath of the Civil Service Law.

“In addition, all request for funds either in form of memo or otherwise must be covered by approved provisions and balance of the budget.” Dr. Mallumbe warned. End