THE 2019 APPROPRIATION BILL, PRESENTED TO THE KWARA STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, BY HIS EXCELLENCY, ALHAJI (DR) ABDULFATAH AHMED, THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF KWARA STATE ON THURSDAY, 6TH DECEMBER, 2018.
PROTOCOLS
1. Mr Speaker, Honourable Members of Kwara State House of Assembly, thank you for welcoming me into this hallowed chamber to present the 2019 Draft Appropriation for your kind consideration and passage, for the last time in the life of my administration.
2. As you are aware, the 2018 Budget was anchored on our desire to consolidate and sustain the significant achievements recorded by this administration in the previous years.
3. Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, I wish to note that the 2019 draft Budget is designed to focus on the successful completion of on-going projects and the effective implementation of programmes and projects which have a direct bearing the people’s wellbeing.
This direction will enable the Government to consolidate the gains of the past years in the provision of social amenities for our people firmly.
Furthermore, the 2019 Budget will only be partially implemented by this administration. Therefore, it is imperative that we put our revenue and expenditure on a sound footing to guarantee that the incoming administration takes off effectively.
4. Accordingly, 2019 Budget is premised on an improved internally generated revenue through land administration for sustainable economic growth and development. Our focus on increasing revenue is not to impose new taxes or levies, but rather to expand the tax as well as plug all revenue loopholes for efficiency and good governance.
5. The economic and fiscal environment in which the 2019 budget will be implemented will not be significantly different from that of the 2018 budget due to a generally uncertain economic environment with a predicted effect on unstable revenue profile.
On this note, we have made realistic revenue projections for smooth implementation of the 2019 budget.
REVIEW OF 2018 BUDGET
6. Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, permit me to give an overview of the performance of the 2018 Budget.
The 2018 Budget was principally designed to build a vibrant and robust economy and ensure that the citizens of Kwara State are prosperous.
7. In the 2018 fiscal year, a total budget size of One Hundred and Ninety Billion, Nine Hundred and Ninety-Seven Million, Four Hundred and Twenty-Five Thousand, Five Hundred and Seventy-One Naira only was approved by this noble house for the implementation of our programmes and projects.
However, in August 2018, the budget was revised downward to the sum of One Hundred and Fifty-six Billion, Forty-three Million, Three Hundred and Thirty-Nine Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ninety-Nine Naira only to reflect the scarcity of fund from all budgeted sources.
8. Mr Speaker, I have the pleasure to report that we made modest progress in the budget implementation of 2018 based on available financial resources. As of September 2018, the overall budget performance was 60.5 per cent. The Capital expenditure recorded 41.4 per cent while recurrent expenditure was 79.4 per cent. The highlights of some of our achievements in some of the key sub-sectors of the economy are as follows: -
Works and Transport
9. In the outgoing fiscal year, the state government recorded significant achievement in the construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of rural and urban roads. A total of sixteen road projects covering a total distance of 111.51 kilometres are at various stages of completion.
Some of these roads include: -
• Rehabilitation of Gaa-Akanbi – Agbabiaka road, Ilorin, Ilorin- South LGA;
• Construction of Egbejila–Asa Dam – Airport road, Ilorin West
LGA;
• Construction of Arobadi Maigida road, Moro LGA;
• Construction of Ilesha Baruba-Gwanara road, Baruten LGA;
• Construction of Share-Oke-Ode road (Section 1) Ifelodun LGA;
• Rehabilitation of Share-Oke-Ode road (section II) Ifelodun LGA;
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