Kebbi Govt Earmarks N3.5b For Payment Of Outstanding Gratuity To Retirees

Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi state has disclosed that  his administration has earmarked N3.5billion for the payment of outstanding gratuity and retirement benefits  to retired civil servants in the state.

Bagudu’s  Special Adviser on   Media, Mr Yahaya Sarki noted in a statement made available to Team@orientactualmags.com on Thursday that the governor said this on Wednesday  during the town Hall meeting  held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential lodge, Birnin Kebbi.

It was held to discuss the  2023 budget proposal.

The state government will  according to the governor defray the outstanding gratuity and retirement benefits owed retirees from Dec. 2021 to Sept. 2022.

He explained that the state government has made adequate arrangements to ensure that the payments were made  before the end of the year.

Bagudu also promised that his administration would not bequeath any unnecessary liabilities to the incoming government in the state.

The governor said the last seven years had been horrendous for the world economy, resulting in global financial turbulence.

Bagudu, who is the Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum , further said,  ‘it is even a miracle that Nigeria had been kept together.

I must thank the public servants and the generality of the people of the state for their uncommon show of support and cooperation.

 I must also thank the people of the state for tolerating  some of our inadequacies .

However, every government should be judged by the challenges it faces and we are glad that we have done our best.

We will sustain our modest efforts to govern the state transparently, honestly and piously and insha Allahu, the incoming administration will consolidate and build on our achievements’.

Bagudu also  read out   the completed and ongoing projects executed by his administration and the   programmes and policies of  his administration  saying,  ‘our main objective is to make life easier for the people of the state’.

‘This affects all the sectors of the economy and we are happy that we have done modestly fabulous’ he added.

He commended the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning under  Dr. Abba Sani Kalgo’s leadership, the Permanent Secretary, Hajiya Aisha Usman and their team for ensuring  that the annual budget of the state receives input from traditional rulers, associations and other relevant stakeholders.

In his welcome address, the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Babale Umar Yauri, appreciated the presence of Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, top Government officials ,royal fathers, civil society groups and international partners at the town hall meeting.

He said the budget town hall meeting, which was the 4th in the series of town hall meetings organized by the Bagudu administration, was aimed at carrying  every indigene of the State along  in the preparation and execution of fiscal policies aimed at promoting good governance.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of  Budget and Economic Planning, Hajiya Aisha Usman had given an overview of 2022 budget performance while the Co-Chair Open Government Partnership, OGP, Ibrahim Abdullahi Ngaski presented outcomes of zonal town halls meeting and citizen input into the 2023 budget. 

The Commissioner of Budget and Economic Planning, Abba Sani Kalgo had earlier given highlights of the 2023 budget called  ‘ Budget of Enduring Legacies ‘

According to him the proposed 2023 budget was prepared in line with the Kebbi State 2023-2025 Medium Term Expenditure Framework.

He explained that ‘the 2023 Budget is based  on a benchmarked oil price of $57 per barrel, Oil production is benchmarked at 1.8 million Barrels Per day, inflation rate is estimated at 20.77% and an Exchange rate of N440 to $1’.

The Commissioner added that  the proposed 2023 Budget ‘consists of a total sum of One Hundred and Sixty-Six Billion, Nine Hundred and Eighty-Five Million, Seventy-Five Thousand, One Hundred and Ten Naira (N 166,985,075,110) only’.

‘Capital Expenditure is 107,323,421,342 – 64% while Recurrent Expenditure – 59,661,653,768 – 36%.

 This is 10.7% reduction in total budget size from 2022 This is a 3% reduction in capital expenditure from the 2022 budget

Projected VAT increases from 20.05 billion in 2022 to 20.05 29.95 billion in 2023. Grant and aid projections are down from

47.63bn in the 2022 budget to 38.56 bn. Our Miscellaneous Revenue projections have reduced from N3.0 billion in 2022 Budget to N3.47 billion  in the proposed 2023 budget’ he added.

Kalgo commended  Bagudu for his transparency and accountability when it comes to the management of state’s resources which  had earned  Kebbi five  honors from the Federal Ministry of Finance and the World Bank.

He added that the 2023 ‘Budget of ‘ Enduring Legacies’ was aimed at ensuring and sustaining  growth and human capital development – Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980. Thank you