The Chairman Bwari Area Council, Mr John Gabaya on Friday in Abuja presented the council’s 2022 budget proposal of N8 billion before the members of the council.
Gabaya, while presenting the proposal, pegged over N4.6 billion for total capital expenditure in the council, with Works and Housing gaining the highest sum of N2 billion.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the council’s 2022 appropriation proposed a total sum of N1 billion for Health and Human Services and N590 million for Education and Social development.
It also pegged N568 million for Agriculture and Natural resources in the council.
In his presentation, the Chairman, who prayed that his mandate would be renewed after the upcoming FCT council elections in February, promised to focus on completion of ongoing projects in the area.
He said that the 2022 budget was made to focus on consolidating and expanding services as well as dividends of democracy to citizens of the council.
“This year, hopefully if re-elected, my administration intends to focus on completing ongoing projects to consolidate our successes so far.
“Subject to availability of funds also, we plan to introduce and commence some other new projects whose impact on the populace will be highly valuable.
“These include the rehabilitation of Mpape ‘D’ market road in Mpape village, rehabilitation of a number of rural and township roads and renovation of a number of dilapidated primary health centres.
“We also intend to provide and reactivate existing boreholes across the 10 wards of the council communities and also put in place street lights in Bwari town among so many other plans.”
Gabaya said that the council’s administration, alongside the legislature had been working assiduously to properly review and amend the council’s by-laws 2016, to correct gaps and shortcomings.
He said this was to boost and strengthen the council’s capacity to raise funds necessary for public projects through efficient revenue generation and tax collection, describing it as “critical’’.
The chairman, while appreciating the members, urged them to support his course and consider passing the budget without delay.
The Speaker of the Legislative House, Mr Adamu Julius, assured the chairman of the house’s support.
He said that as soon as he received the document, the standing Committee on Finance and Appropriation would do the needful soonest and return the budget to the chairman for assent.
Julius, while expressing optimism on the chairman’s re-election, prayed that Gabaya was given another opportunity to consolidate his achievements so far.
“The laudable projects executed so far are evidence of good governance and commitment to the development of this council.
“It has been a great pleasure working with this administration whose journey so far has been democratic, especially with the chairman’s wisdom and matured approach to issues. It has been quite a government of the people.”
The speaker said that in a bid to improve the revenue base of the council, the councilors had embarked on the review and amendment of the councils By-Laws 2016.
He said that the review had already passed through its first and second reading including its public hearing, while also saying that engaging stakeholders at the grassroots had helped proper legislation. (NAN)
