Sokoto state governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, on Monday presented the 2019 budget proposal totalling N169.6 billion to the State House of Assembly for consideration.
Giving the breakdown of the proposal tagged ‘Budget of Consolidation for Sustainable Growth and Development”, Tambuwal said the sum of N99.4 billion was earmarked for capital project while N70.2 billion for recurrent expenditure.
The education sector got the largest share of N47 billion followed by the health sector which received N41 billion.
The agricultural sector, however, received the sum of N21 billion.
Tambuwal further explained that the 2019 budget represented a shortfall of about N50 billion compared to the N220.5 billion budgeted in 2018.
He noted that the 2019 budget was aimed at completing the ongoing projects in the state and initiating new ones.
Responding, Speaker of the House, Alhaji Salihu Maidaji assured the Governor that they would give the proposal earnest consideration.
He, however, appealed to him to ensure a full take off of financial autonomy to the state legislature and judiciary in 2019.
Meanwhile, the House had approved the request by the Executive to access N5.1billion internal loans to provide essential services in the state.
In a letter addressed to the Speaker of the House, Governor Tambuwal said the loans which would be sourced from UBA, Zenith and Fidelity banks were meant to meet their obligations with developmental partners, finance projects and recurrent expenditures.