By Abdulkareem Haruna

Borno State House of Assembly (BOSHA) is poised to expedite the passage of a groundbreaking N340 billion budget for 2024, marking a significant stride towards the sustained development of the state.

The Speaker of BOSHA, Rt. Hon. Abdulkarim Lawan, announced the legislature’s commitment to a swift review and approval of the proposed budget, presented to the House by Governor Babagana Zulum last Monday.

The budget, tagged ‘Budget of Consolidation and Progress’, has already passed its first and second readings in the House just a day after its presentation, demonstrating the Assembly’s resolve for timely enactment.

Lawan, in a press briefing, emphasized the House’s dedication to fulfilling its constitutional responsibilities while maintaining the harmonious working relationship between the Executive and Legislative Arms of the state government.

The proposed budget allocates N198,293,223,000 for capital expenditure and N142,326,613,000 for recurrent expenditure. It outlines key developmental projects, including the construction of roads, mega schools, and healthcare facilities, along with initiatives for poverty alleviation and provision of mass transit.

Lawan praised the budget’s focus on Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement (RRR) of the state’s Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), a critical issue for Borno State, which has been grappling with displacement challenges for several years.

Governor Zulum’s plan to close all IDP camps and relocate the displaced back to their ancestral homes also received commendation from Lawan, the longest-serving Speaker in Nigeria’s history.

Lawan expressed hope that this initiative will soon restore civil authority to areas like his local government area, Guzamala and Abadam, which have remained ghost towns for over seven years.

Lawan’s leadership assures that the House Committee Chairmen will invite representatives from various ministries to defend their budgetary allocations. This commitment underscores the House’s dedication to careful and thorough review of the budget, ensuring its alignment with the government’s good intentions and the people’s best interests.

The speedy passage of the 2024 budget, if successful, promises to usher in a new year characterised by significant progress and development for the people of Borno State across its 27 local government areas.

Meanwhile the speaker said the House has during the 2013 legislative year been able to pass nine bills which have been signed into law.

“These bills comprised The Borno State Special Investment Law; The Borno State Criminal Justice Administration Law; The Borno State Penal Code Law; The Borno State Secondary Education Board Law; The Borno State Investment Protection Law; The Borno State Primary Healthcare Development Law; The Borno State Drugs and Other Medical Consumable Law; The Borno State Livestock Management Law; and The Borno State Local Government Amendment Law.”