Zulum signs N270b Appropriation Bill, Child Rights Bill into Law

The Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum has signed N269.7 billion budget into law for 2022 with about one per cent increase.

The governor stated that capital expenditure stands at N172.53 billion while N95.4 billion is for recurrent expenditure.

He said: “This year’s appropriation bill would be financed from recurrent revenues of N113.84 billion, comprising N48.22 billion statutory allocation, N34.53 billion Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and N20.72 billion Value Added Tax (VAT).”

Presenting the bill for assent in Maiduguri, House of Assembly Speaker, Abdulkarim Lawan, said: “The House Committee on Appropriation and Standing Orders, in consultation with various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), adjusted the budget size.”

According to him, the 2022 budget was increased from N268 billion to N269.7 billion, which is an increase of N1.7 billion (0.63 per cent).

The budget adjustments, according to him, were made to capture five areas of the appropriation bill for signing into law.

On the implementation of the budget, Zulum said: “The law is very clear as regards expenditures without budgetary provisions,” warning members of the State Executive Council (SEC) to be careful.”

Also, Governor Zulum has signed the Child Protection and the Violence Against Human Prohibition bills into law. According to him, the implementation of Act will assist Borno residents in their daily activities.

Signing the bills, yesterday, at the Government House, Maiduguri, he said: “The Child Rights Act was amended in accordance with our culture, norms, religion and traditions.” He noted that some clauses were “omitted and inserted” after due consideration of the House of Assembly to pass the two bills into law.

“On how the bills were passed, the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Kaka Lawan, disclosed: “We sat down to draft the executive bills on the instruction of Governor Zulum. They were sent to the House of Assembly for deliberation, as they affect their norms and traditions.”