Governor Dauda Lawal has signed Zamfara’s 2024 appropriation bill of N426.5 billion into law.

His spokesman, Sulaiman Idris, stated Sunday in Gusau that the governor signed the bill into law on Saturday.

He stated that the Zamfara House of Assembly approved the bill on Friday, noting that the budget prioritised critical sectors of security, education, agriculture, health and infrastructure.

“The 2024 estimate has N118.3 billion or 27 per cent allocated to recurrent expenditure and N308.2 billion, representing 73 per cent allocated to capital expenditure,” the Zamfara governor said. “The budget titled ‘Budget of Rescue’ will enhance domestic and foreign investments, productivity and ease of doing business in the state.”

Mr Lawal disclosed that his administration “budgeted sufficient funds for social intervention programmes to mitigate the impact of current economic difficulties and insecurity.”

The budget listed micro-credit disbursement to small and medium enterprises, the FADAMA programme for food security, and other initiatives to reduce poverty as its focal points.

“We earmarked resources for skills acquisition programmes to provide job opportunities for teeming youths in the state.

“The proposed budget is balanced as the projected revenue equals the estimated expenditure,” added the governor.

(NAN)