Gov. Buni charged new LG chairmen on IGR

By Daily Hint Damaturu

Governor Of Yobe State Mai Mala Buni charged the newly elected chairmen of the 17 local government councils of the state to make prudent use of resources put at their disposal to ensure that government’s plans and projects are beneficial to the people.

Governor Buni stated this today in Damaturu while swearing-in the newly elected local government chairmen at the Government House.

He also tasked the new chairmen to work towards improving the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to in their areas to ensure that they can generate enough resources to provide services in the areas of healthcare, agriculture, education and provision of water.

Governor Mai Mala Buni also assured the newly elected local government chairmen that the state government will support them in any effort to improve the living condition of the people that elected them.

“I urge you to ensure value for money, and place public interest above personal interest in whatever official activities and make government work for the people,” the governor added.

The Governor who is also the National Caretaker Committee Chairman of APC, urged the newly sworn in chairmen to unite the people. The governor also said the recently local government election is a fulfillment of his campaign promise to ensure that local governments are functioning effectively.

On February 27 local government elections were held across Yobe state, including areas affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.

Adhered strictly to 2021approved budget provision, Borno Finance commissioner tells MDAs

By Madu Mohammed, Maiduguri

The Borno state Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planing, Alhaji Adamu Lawan has warned all Ministries, Departments, Agencies and Parastatals (MDAs) to adhered strictly to the 2021 approved budget tagged ” The People’s Budget of Recovery and Consolidation” with total expenditure of N248, 392,616.

Speaking at Press Briefing on the 2021 Approved Budget breakdown held at the Multipurpose Hall of Government House, Maiduguri on Friday, the Borno state commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planing, Alhaji Adamu Lawan said ” it is again noticed with dismay that ministries, departments and parastatals are not yet observing strictly to the laid down budgetary guidelines and procedures. Despite all efforts by the ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Planing to curtail indiscipline, some government agencies went to incur expenditure that are not budgeted, miscalculations, and misappropriation of public funds will no doubt distort the process of the Budget”.

” The 2021 approved budget “the People Budget of Recovery and Consolidation” is N248, 392,616 with recurrent expenditure of N69,131252 and capital expenditure of N179,261364 this represent 27.8 percent and 72 17 percent respectively and the COVID 19 response with a total sum of about N27.966.744 billions”, Lawan added.

The commissioner further explained that the total budget expenditure of the 2021 budget stood at N248, 392 billion as compared to the N108,862 billion budgeted in 2020., adding that the budget is also expected to be financed through the Federal Allocations of N46. 254 billion statutory allocation, , as against N31. 855 billion in 2020, Value Added Tax of N16 110 billion as against N12 220 billion in 2020 and other Federal aids of N4.520 billion as against N3. 363 billion in 2020.

He said to block linkages in the generation of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), the state government has commenced the implementation of Treasury Single Accounting TSA system in all revenue generation agencies includes tertiary institutions through Remittance of all payments.

Alhaji Lawan said ” the approved budget of 2021 Which is accrual basis tagged as the People’s Budget of Recovery and consolidation” is essentially aimed at sustaining the noticeable gains of the government’s developmental efforts in the last 20 months which revolve around our policy thrust of good governance. This budget is based on the newly domesticated Borno state chart of Account which is incompliance with the International Public Sector Account Standard ( IPSAS) and inline with 2021 implementation plan of the State Development Plan (SDP) tagged ” Our Borno, Our Success launched last year”.

He further said ” the objectives and guiding principles of the 2021 budget is to rekindle economic growth job creation and support for SME, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation of infrastructure interns of road network water and sanitation, electricity and housing and entrench good governance through a robust responsive service build on principles of accountability, transparency, equity and justice”.

Gov. Buni Approves N454.2 Million for LG Retirees, Next of Kin of Deceased LG Staff

By Usman Modu Damaturu

His Excellency Governor Mai Mala Buni has approved the sum of N454, 220, 666.94 for the payment of the benefits of 276 retirees and 88 deceased members of staff from across the 17 local government areas of the state.

Of the amount approved by His Excellency the governor, N333, 229, 100.01 will be paid electronically to the accounts of the 276 benefitting retirees. The balance of N120, 991, 566.93 will be paid to the next of kin of the 88 deceased personnel.

The current payments approved by the governor constitutes batch 43 in the long list of benefit payments to retired local government staff. Some may recall that in September 2020, His Excellency Governor Buni had approved N441, 870, 166.50 to 321 retirees, which constituted batch 42 in the payment schedule.

The public should note that payment approvals granted by the governor are always based on the recommendations of the Standing Committee for the Verification and Settlement of Outstanding Pension and Gratuity Liabilities of Local Government Retirees.