Bauchi Governor Signs N467 Billion 2025 Budget Into Law After Legislative Review

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has signed the 2025 Appropriation bill of N467 billion recently passed by the State House of Assembly into law.

The lawmakers increased the budget estimates presented by the Governor by N2 billion.

The Governor on November 21st, 2024 presented a proposal of N465 billion christened: “Budget of Consolidation and Sustainable Development,” to the Assembly for scrutiny and subsequent passage.

Mohammed while assenting to the 2025 budget law at a brief ceremony held at the Executive Chamber of the Government House on Friday, expressed gratitude to the lawmakers for their commitment and for expediting action which saw the timely passage of the budget proposal and acknowledged that the upward review of the budget by N2 billion was necessitated by the desire to ensure that quality services are delivered to the people.

He said: “I welcome you to the occasion of the assenting of the law to authorize the issue of the consolidated revenue fund of the State in the sum of N467,085,248,317. This process legitimizes the implementation of the 2025 approved budget estimates effectively from 1st January, 2025.

“Over 5 weeks ago, precisely on 21st November, 2024, I presented to the Honourable House of Assembly, a budget proposal in the sum of N465,085,248,317. I recall the pledge made by the Honourable Speaker that the House will dispassionately consider the proposal within a reasonable time without, in any way, compromising the legislative processes.

“I want to thank the Honourable Speaker and the Honourable Members for their exceptional commitment and for keeping to their words. I have followed keenly the legislative processes which ensured that all the MDAs were invited and a thorough appraisal of their submissions made.

“I acknowledge that the upward review was necessitated by the desire to ensure that quality services are delivered to our dear citizens. I thank you once again for your unwavering support you have shown for the development of our dear state.

“The 2025 budget defines our desire to define a clear pathway towards meeting our bold vision for the development of our dear state and citizens.”

The Governor said that over the last five years, his administration has made significant progress towards the provision of services and improving the quality of infrastructure that have affected the lives and welfare of the people positively.

“We look forward to implementing the 2025 budget for the next one year and are ever more committed to investing in the development of critical infrastructures needed to grow our economy.

“We will also pay special attention to develop the human capital resources of the state through prioritisation of education, healthcare delivery and provision of key social services. This is in addition to a plan to promote agriculture production, improve commerce and attract investors.

“We have set before us a clear course of action, defining our priorities, and setting up plans to achieve our goals. We must carry out a self assessment of ourselves. I admonish every member of our team to work even harder as the review exercise will be done more frequently,” Mohammed stated.

Earlier in his speech while presenting the approved budget to the Governor, the Speaker, Abubakar Suleiman, recalled that the lawmakers had promised the governor and the people of Bauchi State that the House would pass and submit the approved 2025 budget before the year runs out.

“Accordingly, the House, through its various committees, meticulously reviewed the proposal to ensure that allocations aligned with demands of the state. The engagement was thorough and transparent,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Governor presided over the swearing in of the newly appointed the Secretary to the State Government and his Principal Private Secretary, Aminu Hamayyo and Hashimu Kumbala respectively.

Hammayo, was the Commissioner of Budget, Economic Planning and Multilateral Coordination before his appointment as SSG after the resignation of Ibrahim Kashim from the State Executive Council on the 13th December, 2024.

Hammayo has served in various capacities including the Commissioner of Finance and that of Lands and Survey and later SSG.

Kumbala, the new Principal Private Secretary to the Governor until his appointment was the Special Adviser to the Governor on General services and is a retired Permanent Secretary.

He was appointed to fill the vacant position left the former PPS, Samaila Burga, who was elected as the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Bauchi State.

The Oaths of Office and Allegiance were administered on the new appointees by the State Chief Judge, Justice Rabi Umar who was represented by Justice Haruna Kunaza.

Armstrong Bakam

Follow us on: