The Kwara Executive Council has approved over N239 billion for Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to present to the state House of Assembly as a draft revised 2023 budget.

This is contained in a statement by the Commissioner for Communications, Bola Olukoju, on Sunday in Ilorin, the state capital. 

Ms Olukoju said the revised budget of N239,084,199,757.00 has a capital expenditure taking 50.2 per cent of the chunk, while recurrent expenditure took 49.8 per cent.

She said the revised budget is 27 per cent (N50,238,596,196.00) larger than the approved 2023 budget earlier approved by the house.

According to her, the approval followed a submission by the Commissioner for Planning and Economic Development,  Lafia Aliyu Sabi, who said the process for the revised budget began in June. 

”He said this was followed by thorough deliberations and reviews of submissions from the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of the Government (MDAs) by the Central Budget Committee (CBC).

“The pertinent factor governing the selection of projects for execution in the remaining part of the year is the emphasis placed on capital projects that are critical to stimulate the economic activities in the state for inclusive growth and development. 

”Special considerations have been made to boost economic activities and improve the living standard of the people,” the statement quoted Mr Sabi as saying.

The communications commissioner said the cabinet, among other government processes, also approved for Star Sewing Machine Limited, an International firm, to manage the state’s garment factory, following a long-drawn bidding process involving open tendering in line with relevant laws.

She added that the council meeting was chaired by Mr Abdulrazaq and attended by Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi, Secretary to the State Government AbdulKadir Mahe, and all the Commissioners.

(NAN)