By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
Borno State Government has achieved 84% budget implementation in the year 2024 under review.
The state Commissioner of Budget and Planning, who is also the Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor, Babagana Zulum, Hon. Engr. Babagana Malumbe, stated this during a press briefing on 2024 approved budget breakdown and review of the budget performance and its implementation in the year 2024. The press conference was held at the International conference Hall of Musa Usman State Secretariat Maiduguri on Monday.
Mallumbe said ” this height was achieve due to the introduction of technology and other measures of budget process and implementation “
” The introduction of the automated software has resulted to efficient and effective implementation of budget, tracking process and implementation which has greatly assisted in blocking linkages.
“We are committed to ensuring proper utilization of public resources”, the commissioner added. “The approved 2025 Budget tagged ” Budget of Recovery and Continuity”, is statement of the government commitment to good governance and transparency.”
” We gathered here to provide overview of the 2024 budget implementation and discuss how best to implement 2025 budget”, Malumbe said.
The commissioner added that despite the Boko Haram insurgency and the recent fire and flood disaster at the Monday Market, Customs and Baga Road markets that effected the state , the 2024 budget implementation stood at N403, billion budget implementation against the total of 419 total budget.
” The 2025 budget which initially stood at N538 was jacked up to N621billion . I am assuring you that the performance will surpass that of the 2024 which stood at 84 percent “, Malumbe added.
He, therefore, called on Director of Finance and accounting officers of the Ministries Departments and Agencies to strictly adhered to their budget provisions and warned that anything outside the budget will not be entertained.
He also assured that the software application introduced is intact and secured., stressing that , the use of the technology will greatly block leakages against fraud and misappropriation.
Engr. Mustapha maintained that despite the recorded achievement , Borno state is one of least indebted state in the country in terms of debt profile, adding the state is up to date in the resettlement of its debt.
Earlier, in his opening remarks, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Hon. Bukar Tijjani said in the year 2023, the state government achieved 75 percent budget implementation and in the year (2024) under review, 84 percent and hope to achieve over 90 percent performance and implementation in the 2025.
” Despite the insecurity and the recent flood, Borno State Government budget performance is better that many states in area of health, education, infrastructure, rebuilding public buildings, manpower development, resettlement of IDP among others”, Tijani said.
The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Budget and Planning, Mr. Peter Solomon, said: “this gathering is to discuss better ways of implementing the 2025 budget as a policy guidelines of government projects and policies.”
“This briefing gives us the opportunity to know and track government policies and projects inline with 25 years Development Plan,10 year strategic plan and 10 pact agenda.
