The Bauchi government says it has earmarked N93 billion for education and healthcare services in the 2024 fiscal year.

The budget and economic planning commissioner, Aminu Hammayo, stated this during the 2024 budget breakdown on Friday in Bauchi.

Governor Bala Mohammed on Thursday presented a N300.2 billion 2024 Appropriation Bill to the state House of Assembly for approval.

Presenting the proposals, tagged ‘Budget of consolidation and renewed focus’, Mr Mohammed assured that the budget would be fully implemented.

According to him, N178.8 billion capital expenditure represents 59.6 per cent, while N121.3 billion for recurrent expenditure represents 40.4 per cent of the budget.

Mr Hammayo said N48 billion had been allocated to the education ministry, representing 16.1 per cent of the budget, adding that the move was unprecedented in Bauchi.

The commissioner said healthcare services got N45.09 billion, representing 15.05 per cent, in line with the Abuja declaration of a minimum of 15 per cent budgetary allocation to the sector.

Other budget highlights showed that N42.3 billion has been allocated to the works ministry to fast-track the infrastructure development drive of Mohammed’s administration.

The statement said, “Looking at the size of the budget, it means our allocations for education, health, and infrastructure take about 52 per cent of the total budget, and that is an indication of the focus of the present administration.

“The ministry of finance has an allocation of N32.4 billion, and N13.7 billion about 4.6 per cent of the budget for the office of the head of service and that is mainly made up of provisions for outstanding gratuities and pension payment.”

It added, “We have N5 billion for the ministry of humanitarian affairs and another N5.6 billion for the ministry of budget and economic planning, made up of provisions for reserve.

“A total of N7.5 billion was allocated to the ministry of agriculture and N3.9 billion to the ministry of youths and sports.”

(NAN)