December 23, (THEWILL) – The Yobe state governor, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, has signed into law the 2025 Finance and Appropriation Bills passed by the Yobe State House of Assembly.
Buni said the 2025 budget, tagged “Economic Consolidation and Poverty Reduction”, would focus on the economic development of the state through empowerment initiatives.
The 2025 budget had Three Hundred and Twenty Billion, Eight Hundred and Eleven Million Naira (N320,811,000.00) submitted by the governor to service both capital and recurrent expenditures.
The governor revealed that in line with the oversight function, the State House of Assembly made adjustments, thereby making the proposals realistic and reflecting prevailing economic realities.
According to him, the slight adjustments made by the assembly on the budget size, with a decrease of N15 million, have demonstrated a strong commitment to serving the people, placing the state’s interests first under, and ensuring the timely passage of these bills into law.
He said, ‘‘It is gratifying that in less than two months, the bills have been passed by the House of Assembly and we are here today to perform this important occasion of signing the bills into law to give the government a legal framework for its 2025 expenditure.”
He further revealed that ‘‘our administration is committed to judicious use and investment of our people-oriented programmes and projects, especially education, Healthcare delivery, agriculture, Infrastructural development, wealth Creation, and empowerment to stimulate economic growth.
‘‘As the year 2025 sets in, the government will hasten the completion of all ongoing projects, initiate new ones and ensure timely completion of all, in fulfilment of our campaign promises.
‘‘We have identified and mapped out some rich agricultural, livestock and other natural potentials for international investment to generate employment opportunities and wealth Creation.
Meanwhile, the governor also rolled out empowerment support for the vulnerable groups who have completed their training.
He directed the Project Monitoring Committee under the lead of ship Engr. Zaji Bunu, to intensify supervision and monitoring of all projects so that the projects would be executed on schedule and in strict compliance with the contractual agreement for quality execution to add value to the lives of the people.
“As you are all aware, the state government is implementing the N70,000 minimum wage salary structure. This means there is an increase in the wage bill and a decrease in our balance.
He explained that “the state government employed 15 graduates from each of the 178, totalling 2,670, and provided cash support to flood victims, small and medium scale entrepreneurs to stimulate economic growth in line with our policy of employment generation. Therefore, the need to prioritise our needs and programmes with increased prudence in expenditure to foot our bills cannot be overemphasised.
“To the 500 beneficiaries trained on the production of household needs, who are benefitting from the N50 million cash start-up grant, I congratulate you. This initiative, executed through the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), highlights our administration’s commitment to post-conflict recovery and grassroots empowerment.
“Today, we celebrate not just a training program but a milestone in our shared quest to transform lives and communities. The 500 beneficiaries who were trained in the production of soaps, detergents, charcoal, Shoes and mark a significant milestone in our administration’s commitment to our recovery programme by rebuilding livelihoods, strengthening economic resilience, and fostering stability for a better future for these communities.
“The participants are now equipped with skills to promote self-reliance and local entrepreneurship. Each beneficiary will receive a cash grant of NGN100,000 and a start-up kit to launch their businesses, a sustainable income generation. This program empowers women and youth, who constitute 70% and 30% of beneficiaries.”
He expressed his gratitude to the development partners, “I extend my appreciation to our partners at the UNDP for their steadfast support and collaboration. I urge the beneficiaries to make good use of this opportunity and to inspire others with your success. Dispose of these start-up kits given to you. It is a pathway to a brighter future.
“I urge the public and the business community to support this initiative and patronize the products manufactured by these hardworking individuals. Together, we can create a thriving local economy and contribute to making Yobe State great.”
Also, Chiroma Buba Mashio, the Speaker House of Assembly, said the State House of Assembly has passed the state’s 2025 budget, amounting to N320.7 billion, a slight decrease of N15m from the initial N320.8 billion proposed by the Governor for recurrent and capital expenditures.
He said the House of Assembly passed the budget following the adoption of the report of its standing committee on finance and appropriation during a plenary session.
He added that after extended defence sessions with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), slight adjustments were made to ensure a realistic budget estimate.
He said that a total of over N144 billion representing percent was allocated to recurrent expenditures. While over N176 billion representing 55 percent was allocated for capital expenditures.
The Speaker commended the Committee’s use of Finances on appropriation and other members for their various contributions towards the quick passage of the 2025 budget.
