Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, on Friday presented a ₦540,368,119,765 appropriation bill for the 2025 fiscal year to the state parliament.
The PUNCH reports that the proposed budget focuses on completing ongoing projects, initiating new ones, and strengthening social protection programmes for the people of the state.
Presenting his sixth budget before the Kwara State House of Assembly, the governor disclosed that capital expenditure accounts for 62.1% of the fiscal plan, while recurrent expenditure makes up 37.9% of the appropriation bill.
AbdulRazaq stated that the budget is based on projected oil prices of $75 per barrel, daily oil production of 2.06 million barrels, and a GDP growth rate of 6.4%.
Tagged as “The Budget of Economic Stability Sustained Prosperity,” the Governor said that the funding windows are Federation Account Allocation receipts, which constitute 48.1%; and opening balance (₦62 billion), Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) and other capital receipts that form the balance of 51.9%.
“The budget of economic stability and sustained prosperity funds the completion of ongoing projects like the international conference centre, innovation hub, Patigi Motel, Kwara Hotel, and several roads across the state. Construction will begin on the multi-story CourtHouse and access roads for Smart City project, alongside the development of 250 mass housing units. Statewide road construction and the reconstruction of Lafiagi and Offa Stadia are also prioritised.
“Further, we are committed to workers’ welfare, social protection for the poor, and strengthening mechanised agriculture with the procurement of modern equipment.”
The governor said the budget will complete the major infrastructural projects across the state, and fund new ones such as 250 units of mass housing and inner roads in the new Ilorin smart city.
The stadia in Offa and Lafiagi are also prioritised in the budget, while new roads are to be constructed in the three Senatorial zones of Kwara South, North, and Central to further ease the movement of goods and services within the state, according to the Governor.
He said construction work will begin on a multi-story CourtHouse which he described as “the best of its kind in the northern region, while the Metropolitan Square will be upgraded and completed.”
AbdulRazaq said, “massive youth and women empowerment and anti-poverty initiatives, the social sector gets 32.50% of the plan, while education and health are allotted 16.2% and 10.56% apiece, with a focus on getting the new university of education off the ground and strengthening existing institutions across the state.
“Ministry of Works and Transport gets 17.51% to carry on its massive road construction and maintenance mandate.”
He also said the budget is not just a ritual as it “reflects our commitment to delivering on promises as resources permit,” recalling how the 2024 budget brought significant benefits to various sectors, including infrastructure, healthcare, education, and social protection.