2023 Appropriation: Bwari Council Chairman Presents N10.6B

By: Emmanuel Tortiv

The Chairman of Bwari Area Council of the FCT, John Gabaya has presented a budget of N10,684,556,784 to the Council’s Legislative Arm for the 2023 fiscal year.

The Chairman, who made the presentation at the Council Chambers, christened it as a budget of ‘Inclusive Growth and Development’ for vast majority of Bwari people.

The projected gross statutory revenue of N13,424,560,984 with statutory deductions of N4,773,569,200 for Primary School Teachers, Pensions and Trainings was laid before the Speaker with a total projected net revenue of N10,684,556,784.

This represents a marginal increase of N1,083,548,200 over last year’s budget

In 2022, the Council’s gross statutory revenue was N12,341,012,784 with total net revenue reciepts of N8,258,512,784 and total deductions of N4,310,000,000.

Of the total net revenue receipts, N8,650,991,784 is expected from Statutory Allocations, while N2,033,500,000 is projected from internally generated revenue and accruals from FCT Internal Revenue disbursements.

According to him, the budget is projected with an estimated expenditure profile of N1,799,756,784 for personnel cost, while N2,103,800,000 is for overhead cost just as N6,780,935,000 is earmarked for capital expenditures.

Gabaya said the budget intends to provide “gainful jobs, increased incomes and greater wealth for all households in Bwari Area Council”.

He called on all stakeholders and residents of the Area Council to cooperate and participate in the implementation process to ensure the actualization of the Council’s set objectives to improve production and productivity.

The Chairman said as a way of strengthening the revenue generation capacity of the Council, an ‘understanding’ has been reached with Remita to electronically collect revenues to improve efficiency, transparency by blocking leakages.

The Chairman after sectoral appraisal of the previous budget,
explained that due to paucity of funds, the 2022 budget focused mainly on revamping the rural and township infrastructure and provisions of basic social services.

His words: “I am happy to inform you that, based on the resources we made substantial progress in terms of performance.”

Responding after receiving the copy of the budget, the Speaker Bwari Legislative House Hon. Ahmed Yerima Douglas lauded the Chairman’s commitment towards transforming the Council’s Economy.

The Speaker assured the Chairman that the Area Council Lawmakers would diligently consider and pass the budget into law to facilitate the continued development of the Council.