Sokoto State House of Assembly yesterday passed the proposed N220.5 billion state’s Appropriation Bill for 2018 presented by Governor, Aminu Tambuwal.
The governor on, December 21, 2017 presented the 2018 Appropriation Bill to the state House of Assembly.
The passage of the budget followed a motion moved by Deputy Leader, Hon. Ibrahim Arzika (APC-Sokoto North II) after consideration of a report by the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Malami Muhammad (APC-Sokoto South II), said while presenting the report that the House should brace up in the conduct of its oversight functions.
He said: “This is to fast track budget performance and implementation in all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the state,” stressing that there was also the need for constant sensitisation and enlightenment of the citizens by relevant stakeholders on what budget was all about and the expenditure of the government based on the cash flow into the state.
According to the lawmaker, the State Board of Internal Revenue should process the review of absolute tax laws and fines for improvement of the government’s revenue base.
However, Malami commended the Interim Management Committee of the Sokoto State Board of Internal Revenue for ensuring a huge increase in the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) that rose astronomically by 200 per cent, compared to what was generated in 2016.
He added that the state Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and all others MDAs should be alive to their responsibilities in order to ensure that project titles, descriptions and costs are correctly stated in the budget book. He further noted: “The N220,500,264,565.00 2018 was neither reduced nor increased by the Committee.
The figures proposed by the governor remained as it was submitted to the House. “However, based on the genuine request of Sub-Committee, the Committee moved resources inwards to accommodate some important demands and interest of the people.”
Meanwhile, the Speaker of the House, Hon. Salihu Maidaji said: “The bill is accordingly read the third time and passed as the members unanimously accepted the motion in a vote.”
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