AIDELOJE OJO writes on the effort by the Niger state government to round off work on ongoing projects amidst criticism by the opposition APC
Niger state Commissioner for Planning and Deputy Chairman of the state planning commission, Yahaya Dansalau, took position at a press briefing last week to declare 70.8% performance of the state 2014 budget in a first quarter review. This high score card immediately placed the commissioner on hot seat by critics and opposition wanting to see evidence in the projects executed under the implementation of the fiscal appropriation. However, DanSallau did not disappoint as he thrashed out the issues. He devoted the best part of his argument to the completion of the projects within the fiscal year to allay fears in some quarters that the administration might abandon them or leave them uncompleted before handing over in 2015.
To be on the same page with the commissioner, it is pertinent to highlight the 2014 budget tagged “budget of sustainable economic growth which was predicated on a revenue estimate of N98, 862, 343, 536, 00 consisting of recurrent expenditure of N47, 290. 280, 591, 00 amounting to 47.84% of the total budget while the capital expenditure was estimated at N51, 562, 062, 945, 00 representing 52.16% of the budget.
The budget, according to the commissioner would be financed through Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of N6, 315, 890, 060.00, statutory allocation of N68, 699, 539, 654.00, Sure-P allocation of N2,616, 327, 854.00, Capital Receipts of N11, 000, 000, 000. 00 and Value Added Tax of N9, 220, 585, 968. 00
The budget, he further explained was aimed at the completion of critical on–going projects, diversification of the stat economy to reduce over dependence on federal allocation through intensive revenue drive, exploration of support and intervention from development partners and cushioning the impact of petroleum subsidy removal on the ordinary citizens through Sure – P programmes
The commissioner argued that despite a 40% shortfall in federal allocation, the state revenue performance stood at N18.416 billion out of pro- rated budget size of N24.713 billion for the first quarter representing 74.52% . The breakdown of the budget performance for the period showed that M11.504 billion came from federation accounts representing 66% performance, IGR of N1.130 billion with 71.58%, capital receipts of N2.640 billion while VAT generated 102% performance of N2.367 billion.
It also showed that N9.433 billion was spent on recurrent expenditure amounting to 80 performance, capital expenditure performance of 61.39% of N7.913 billion and personnel cost of N6.012 billion representing 87%. Notwithstanding the technicalities, the trained banker and economist said this had impacted positively on the people.
These , he listed to include prompt payment of workers’ salaries, construction of hospitals, infrastructural development, provision of educational facilities, poverty alleviation and raising the living standard of the people.
“We have done excellently in the implementation of this year budget.
I want to say that if a student obtains 70 percent in an examination, he or she has A grade which is excellent. We deserve commendations from even the critics pretending not to see the good work the administration of the Chief Servant, Muazu Babangida Aliyu is doing.
“I must assure you that we will complete all the on- going projects before the end of the administration in 2015.
Those criticising us should come out with constructive criticism instead of false claims on things of which they are ignorant. We are delivering dividends of democracy to the people and the Chief Servant deserved accolade for the high performance of the budget and prudent management of resources”, he said.
Speaking in an interview with Blueprint, the commissioner lambasted those claiming that money has been siphoned through “elephant projects” by the administration, insisting that such critics were blind to how projects executed under bond works. He stated that under the bond agreement, no money goes out of the project to which it has been tied. However, the Chief Servant, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu may have provided better insight to the determination of the his administration to stop corruption in the line of budget implementation
Aliyu said:“The state legislators must ensure effective monitoring of the implementation of the state 2014 budget for high performance. It is the responsibility of the legislators to monitor projects under the budget through oversight functions and the state House of Assembly should always invite MDAs for questioning on the stages of implementation of the budget”.
At a recent event, Governor Aliyu declared that his administration had over the past years fulfilled all its campaign promises to the people of the state in the provision of dividends of democracy.
He explained that there was no part of the state that the impact of the administration has not been felt, adding that the approach to governance since 2007 has been people based and result oriented.
He said that implementation of this year budget has been streamlined to provide more dividends of democracy to the people. He said that some people often mistake his projects for federal government projects because of their high quality, adding that “we are all here to see that they are indeed all our projects”.
Blueprint learnt that some of the projects under the fiscal year included the construction of bridge across river Shiroro, the construction of 150 bed neo natal hospital in Minna, construction of hotel opposite Government House, housing projects in the 3 arm zone, construction of roads network in parts of the state.
However, the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), faulted the government’s score card. Speaking in an interview with our reporter, the state publicity secretary of APC, Mr. Jonathan Vatsa scored the budget performance low insisting that the state economy had been dormant while the administration had turned deaf ears to the plight of the ordinary people.
He claimed people still suffer from acute poverty and hunger in the state while government is deceiving people with unrealistic budget performance. Parading such a high performance score of the budget, he said, was a cheap propaganda, gimmick and tantamount to undermining the intelligence of the citizens of the state.
But Dansallau swiftly dismissed the claim, urging people not be taken in by the APC postulations, adding that the opposition was malicious and ignorant of how to assess budget performances
Amidst all the bickering, the governor has consistently assured to deliver all his projects before the end of his tenure in 2015. Blueprint learnt that he has been paying more visits to project sites this year apparently to ginger up work. Speaking to our reporter during such visit in Minna, While on inspection tour of projects in Minna recently, Governor Aliyu said: “As you can see, I am inspecting projects on-going in Minna. I want to assure you that I will deliver these projects to the people and commission them before 2015. I am satisfied with the level of work on site and I will ensure that the contractors will meet up with terms of the job.”
From whatever point of view one wound want to assess the state 2014 budget performance, it is important to put sentiments aside and forge ahead with prudent implementation of the budget on a good footing for the overall benefit of the ordinary people of Niger state
