BudgIT State of States 2021: Yobe State is doing well in fiscal responsibility performance, others, by Yusuf Ali
Yobe State under the able and dynamic leadership of Governor Mai Mala Buni is doing well in Nigeria today in terms of fiscal performance and others.
A report by BudgIT, a highly respected Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) which focuses on fiscal performances of both federal and state governments in the country, listed Yobe State as the 21st, ahead of 15 other states, namely: Kano, Oyo, Akwa Ibom, Jigawa, Niger, Bauchi, Adamawa, Katsina etc in the fiscal performance ranking of states for 2020/2021.
According to the BudgIT annual report on the state of States, released on Monday, September 27, 2021, Yobe State, was listed 25th position with 2.26 Score on States Performance on Index A, in comparatively limited dependence on federally distributed revenue.
The report also indicates that Yobe State was rank 16th on States Performance Index B with 0.69 Score as State that have comparatively more public revenue left to invest in capital infrastructure.
Yobe State also topped 6th with 0.87 Score on States Performance Index C amongst States that have more comparative fiscal bandwidth to borrow more due to their comparatively low debt burden.
On the Annual States Performance on Index D, Yobe State was listed at 10th position with 1.29 Score amongst States that give higher priority to investing in capital expenditure compared to their operating expenses.
The overall 2021 Fiscal Performance Ranking, and the States Performances Index A, B, C, and D indicating that “the fiscal fundamentals of Yobe state, compared to others in the country, are more prudently managed”.
To put the ranking in its proper context and perspective, it is important to note that BudgIT, is a civic-tech organisation leading the advocacy for transparency and accountability in Nigeria and three other African countries and it has launched the 2020 edition of its annual States of States report entitled: “Fiscal Options for Building Back Better.”
This report is BudgIT’s signature analysis that provides citizens, CSOs, stakeholders and policymakers with robust insights on ways to implement financial and institutional reforms that will improve states’ fiscal performance and sustainability levels.
Gabriel Okeowo, CEO, BudgIT, shedding more light on how the ranking was derived, said that ‘for this year’s report, the organization examined states’ fiscal health using four metrics namely; the ability of states to meet their operating expenses with IGR and VAT, states’ ability to cover their operating expenses and loan repayment with their total revenue, how much fiscal room states have to borrow more, and the degree to which each state prioritizes capital expenditure with respect to their operating expenses.”
The nitty gritty of the report as it concerns the excellent fiscal performance of Yobe State under the pragmatic leadership of Governor Mai Mala Buni, highlights the critical areas that the State exhibited astute prudential management to include the following:
Yobe state was amongst the 25 states in the country that could meet their operating expenses obligations with a combination of their IGR and Value Added Tax (VAT) as measured in BudgIT’s ‘Index A’ ranking.
Yobe state came out 16 amongst states which prioritized investment in infrastructure by spending more on capital expenditure than operating expenses. This analysis was based on each state’s 2020.
Yobe state, according to the NGO, was equally amongst seventeen states which were still able to improve their investment in capital expenditure, from 2019 levels, despite fiscal constraints induced by Covid-19 pandemic.
The report equally identified Yobe state as one of the least debt profile in the federation. The States with the highest foreign debt that were significantly hit due to negative exposure to exchange rate volatility are: Lagos, Kaduna, Edo, Cross River, Bauchi, Zamfara, Imo etc.
The overwhelming import of this impeccable report is that Yobe state, under the brilliant leadership of Governor Mai Mala Buni, has once again emerged as one of the States with low debt profile, high in investing in capital expenditure and prudently managed states in the country.
This annual report has once again informed any doubting Thomas of the massive infrastructural development and the astute acumen with which Governor Mai Mala Buni is managing the State’s resources, especially at a time when the global economy has been devastated by the deadly Covid-19 pandemic.
It is on record that based on it’s policy of continuity, consolidation and innovation, for every project which the Governor Buni’s administration has embarked on; roads and drainages, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, agriculture, housing, markets, youths and women empowerment across the length and breath of the state, there has always been a structured payment schedule to ensure that no project is delayed as a result of funding constraints.
It has therefore come as little or no surprise at all that the State has come out amongst States that are doing well in the BudgIT fiscal perfomance ranking of states for 2021. The reason for this is simple; Governor Buni’s midas touch in fiscal acumen and the strategic prudential discipline which had been the hallmark in the management of the states financial resources, is unparalleled and yielding fantastic reports.
Governor Mai Mala Buni has always sounded it loud and clear that he has come to serve progressively to the best of his abilities. He has left no one in doubt since he assumed office in May 2019, that he is a leader who wants the best for his people and is well aware of his avowed pledge and commitment, both in actions and comments, and he is very determined to move Yobe forward and even open the state for greater opportunities.
Indeed, for a leader who has also kept faith with his pledge to Yobe people of his commitment to continue with the project of his predecessor with innovation, as well as his promise to make sure that he delivers legacy projects to every local government area in the state, the obvious conclusion to be made is that Yobe state will continue to excel in its fiscal perfomance even as Governor Buni works to deliver on his national assignment for rebuilding and repositioning the governing All Progressives Congress APC, a progressive party for Nigeria and all Nigerians.
Yusuf Ali, Media Officer, All Progressives Congress (APC) Headquarters, writes from Abuja.
Follow the Neptune Prime channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va74ZvU2v1IqKByXoX3d
Do you have breaking news, interview request, opinion, suggestion, or want your event covered? Email us at neptuneprime2233@gmail.com
