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| 33 States that Present 2019 Budget |
In the last quarter of the 2018, federal and 33 state
governments in Nigeria presented financial estimates for the year 2019 worth N15.7
trillion. Cross River, Lagos and Zamfara are the states without budget. Minimum
budget was presented by Nasarawa state government, totaling N87 billion. Akwa
Ibom proposed over N671 billion for the year, overtaking Lagos state which
usually presents highest financial estimates every year. On average, the 33
states are likely to spend N209.4 billion.
From the regional perspective, it appears that people in the South-South
and South-West regions are likely to experience biggest monetary flow than
other regions because their governments proposed the highest estimates for the
year. Governments in South-East and North-Central are the least spenders.
North-Western and North-Eastern governments are within the midpoint of the
estimates. More than N5 trillion would be spent on capital projects, while
recurrent expenditure would gulp N9.285 trillion.
During the presentations at the federal and state levels, the
narrative was that these estimates would assist governments in creating a better
environment for people and businesses towards inclusive growth. Federal
government hinted that “the 2019 Budget would consolidate on the
achievements of the 2018 and 2017 Budgets and advance delivery of the goals of
Nigeria’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan 2017 – 2020.” Some of the state
executives informed that their estimates would enable them to address the welfare
of the people, especially provision of qualitative education, health and
infrastructure.
Winning the Race
As
executives hinged their budgets on offering of social services to the citizens,
analysis shows that residents and indigenes in the states shown interest in understanding
social and economic issues such as education, health, jobs, transport and housing.
This
establishes the citizens’ readiness to know how the governments would solve
varied issues through their estimates. The interest which was monitored through
search behaviour and analysed along with the key assumptions of the national
budget reveals that the assumptions are most likely not helping the state
governments in the full implementation of the budgets.
Infoprations
also discovered a strong link between the 33 state governments’ budgets and
people’s interest in housing (72.7%). The result also emerges for infrastructure
(43.4%). This indicates that the budgets are better off when they are spent on
the two issues. Analysis suggests that the estimates of the state governments established
negative connections with the people’s interest in jobs (-12.6%). Over 30%
connection was found for the citizens’ interest in transport development, while
health and education had 0% and 0.8% respectively.
These
insights show that the federal and state governments must ensure adequate
implementation of parts of the budgets allocated to housing, infrastructure,
jobs, health and education. This is the only means of fulfilling the social
welfare mission echoed during presentations.
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