How I Changed Zamfara Budget Formula To Attain Massive Infrastructural Devt – Yari

Zamfara State Governor, Abdulazeez Yari, says Nigeria cannot depend on its yearly budget for infrastructural development.

Speaking on Tuesday during an interactive session with a delegation of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the governor said if Nigeria continues to go with the books of budget for infrastructure, then the problem of infrastructural deficit will continue to persist.

The delegation are in Zamfara for an on-the-spot assessment of development projects in the state for an ongoing nationwide Dividend of Democracy Tour.

Yari said the only way the Federal Government can bridge the massive infrastructural gap in the country is through borrowing.

He advised the government to work with the National Assembly to borrow for capital development and infrastructure.

The governor said the massive infrastructural development currently experienced by the Zamfara people, was only made possible, through his experience in public service.

“I have said this time without number, what helped me in the management of my state is my experience in the National Assembly,” he said.

“In the National Assembly, I critically looked at the situation and where we are going, if we are to go by the books of budget, I don’t think in the next 50 years it will take Nigeria to anywhere.

“The government should decide another mechanism on how they are going to go about infrastructural development.

“Each member of the National Assembly wants a project to pass through his constituency, so that he can mention to his people what he has done for them. The Nigerian development is beyond that, we need to look at critical sectors of the economy like infrastructure, roads, rail, and so on.

“We need to work together to allocate funds to a particular infrastructural project, that if the project is going to spend three years, the Executive and National Assembly should find a way that they are going to retain the budgetary provision and the money to at least 80 percent to 100 percent on ground for that particular project so that the project can go.

“The only way this can work is that the Federal Government and National Assembly collaborate and get massive funds either through borrowing for projects for capital development and infrastructure, otherwise, the yearly budget won’t get to anywhere.”

Yari said when he became governor in 2011, he had to change the budget formula then of 30 percent capital and 70 percent recurrent to 30 percent recurrent to 70 percent capital.

According to data by the state’s ministry of works, the governor Yari-led administration has built 1,014 kilometre roads in the past 7 years.

The governor had earlier stated that during his campaign prior to his election, he toured the 106 communities in the state and realized the major demands of the people was infrastructure.

“When I became governor of Zamfara, the budget was 70 percent recurrent and 30 percent capital, then I turned it upside down and made it 70 percent capital and 30 percent recurrent, and that is what we maintain up till now.

“Before I start any project I must have atleast 80 percent or 100 percent of the funds on ground, so that project cannot go beyond the agreed date,” he added.