Executive chairman of Etsako West Local Government Area, Yakubu Musa, has presented the 2019 fiscal year budget estimates of N3.133,752,905,32 billion to the legislative arm for consideration and approval.
Musa said the 2019 budget tagged, “Budget of Rejuvenation” was N200 million lower than that of 2018 of N3.313,401,152,75 billion.
He said the sum of N2.3 billion was proposed for recurrent expenditure while the capital expenditure was N741 million, saying the budget was aimed at meeting the electioneering promises to the people as well as complementing the developmental efforts of the state government.
The council boss said the Economic sector had the highest allocation of N368 million, followed by Social sector with N289 million, Administrative sector N69 million, Law and Justice received N14 million.
He disclosed that the local government Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) was N252 million in 2018, pointing out that stringent steps were being taken to increase it to impact on the masses.
“In this year, being the second lap of my administration, there is the need to ensure that we rejuvenate social-economic and infrastructural development activities in the local government.
“I wish to appeal that the proposal be given accelerated hearing to enable the executives implement its policies and programmes in the overall interest of the people of the local government,” he said.
In his remark, the leader of the council’s legislature, Kelvin Mohammed, assured the chairman of speedy passage of the budget, saying, “We the councillors shall prove ourselves to be worthy partners in the task of providing good governance to the people of Etsako West.
“We promise to cooperate effectively with the executive arm and request that they do not constrain the relationship.”
Also presenting the 2019 budget estimates to the legislative arm was the executive chairman of Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, Don Umoru.
Umoru presented the budget estimates of N2.3 billion for the activities of the local government during the 2019 fiscal year at Igarra, the administrative headquarters of the council.
The council boos, who tagged the budget, “Budget of Consolidation, said it was 17 percent lower than the N2.8 billion in 2018.
He said the budget proposal was to take care of needs of the council and consolidate on infrastructure and social-economic gains of 2018 budget.
According to Umoru, the breakdown of the budget shows recurrent expenditure of N1.6 billion, while the capital expenditure is N718 million.
He said the Economic sector had the highest allocation of N326 million, followed by Social sector with N195 million, Administration sector, N121 million and Environment, N75 million.
“The high proportion of recurrent expenditure is to enable the local government to fully implement the recently approved minimum wage for civil servants.
“It is my hope that the implementation of the budget will bring sustainable development to the local government area. It is my honour and privilege to present this budget to you for quick consideration and passage in order to move this council forward,’’ he said.
Receiving the budget, the leader of the council’s Legislature, Oyewole Samuel, commended the chairman and assured him of accelerated consideration.
