Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state has signed the N248 billion 2021 budget into law with an increase of N30 billion or 14%. According to him, the increase of N30 billion was to rehabilitate dormant industries, including Maiduguri International Hotel, Neital shoe factory and Boplast industry. While assenting the budget into law Monday at the Government House, Maiduguri, the Governor disclosed that the rehabilitation of industries and factories will reduce unemployment and poverty among youths. Zulum’s initial budget proposals of N135.1billion to the House of Assembly, was for capital projects, which represents 65%, while recurrent expenditures stood at N72 billion or 35%. He charged all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to strictly abide with budgetary provisions, while implementing the appropriation bill. He also directed his cabinet members to accelerate activities in their ministries to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people. He expressed appreciation to the leadership and members of the Borno State House of Assembly for their cooperation with the executive arm. “In this year, the administration will sustain its priority on security, education, healthcare, Agriculture and provision of potable water,” he said, adding that there will be reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs and refugees. Speaker of the Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan attributed the increase in budget to cater for industrial growth and job opportunities. Borno’s attorney general and Commissioner of Justice, Barrister Kaka Shehu Lawan conducted the signing ceremony. He said that the Governor’s assent was a constitutional requirement for the bill passed by the assembly to become law.
