By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.

GOVERNOR Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi has presented an Appropriation Bill of N582.4 billion as total estimated expenditure for 2025 fiscal year to the state House of Assembly for approval.

Presenting the Appropriation Bill on the floor of the Assembly on Tuesday, Governor Ododo said the budget represented a total estimated revenue (Recurrent Revenue and Capital Receipts) and total estimated expenditure (Recurrent and Capital).

Tagged “Budget Of Inclusive Development” Ododo said the budget was designed to achieve six major goals aimed at promoting economic growth, reducing financial burdens and creating a more attractive business environment for investors and partners of the state.

According to him, the total budget outlay of N582,404,119.489 is divided into Recurrent Expenditure of N279,590,215,687 representing 48.01 per cent and Capital Expenditure of N302,813,903,802 representing 51.99 per cent.

“The total estimated revenue (recurrent revenue and capital receipts) stands at (N582,404,119,489 for the year 2025 and the total estimated expenditure (Recurrent and Capital) stands at N582,404,119,489 for the year 2025 making the 2025 Draft Budget a balance budget”, Ododo revealed.

The governor hinted that the fiscal strategy of the Government for the next three years would be anchored on the on-going Public Financial Management Reform (PFM).

Over the period 2025-2027, the State Government’s fiscal policy would be directed at Improving the efficiency and effectiveness of spending and ensuring greater control of the State Wage Bill.

He said the fiscal policy would also aim at directing capital expenditure to critical infrastructures such as e Road, Housing, Education, Health and other thematic areas of Job Creation, Youth Engagement, Infrastructure and Utilities and Public Sector and Pension Reforms.

Boosting revenue receipts by identifying and blocking revenue leakages; and gradual fiscal consolidation to achieve a level of public spending consistent with macroeconomic stability and sustainable debt would also be pursued.

Addressing the governor earlier, Speaker of the House, RT Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf described the occasion as a “Moment of historic significance” as it marked the first time Governor Ododo was presenting a budget to the House since his assumption of office as Governor.

“This presentation underscores the vital partnership between the Executive and Legislative Arms of Government. As representatives of the people, it is our sacred duty to scrutinize the budget proposals”, he said.

The exercise, according to the Speaker, is to ensure they reflect the financial plan, vision, priorities and commitment of the State Government in addressing the welfare, needs and aspirations of the citizens of Kogi State through inclusive development, economic growth, social security and justice.

Pledging to ensure timely passage of the Appropriation Bill, Speaker Aliyu Umar Yusuf said, “This process symbolizes our shared commitment to advancing the progress of our dear State through effective governance”, he said. (Ends)

By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja

The National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC) has undertaken a Management Post-Evaluation exercise of its projects across communities in 10 Local Government Areas in Kogi state commending communities for taking ownership of the projects.

Nura Tanko Wakili, the Team Lead while addressing newsmen at the end of the exercise commended the N-HYPPADEC catchment communities in Kogi state for taking ownership and utilizing the projects cited in their areas described their zeal as “heart-warming.”

Nura who is also the Head of Press and Public Affairs in the Commission, said that the wholesome acceptance of the Commission’s projects by the communities was not unexpected having from the onset involved the the benefitting communities.

“In N-HYPPADEC, we believe in Community-Driven Development Approach. In Whatever we are doing. We always use our slogan of Bottom-Top approach. We ensure that communities are carried along.

“That’s why we have what we call Needs Assessment. In 2021 when we came on board we conducted needs assessment to identify those areas that are the priorities of these communities for interventions.

“Just recently in this 2024,
we conducted another round of needs assessment and after collecting the data, we don’t go to our offices, sit down and plan on the available data.

“No, we engage the communities to ascertain whether the data captured by our enumerators is what represents the interest of these communities”, he explained.

Nura said that N-HYPPADEC embarked on the Management Post-Evaluation exercise as an intervention agency, to ensure that projects executed by the commission met the purpose for which they were cited in the communities.

“These are communities that are in one way or the other affected by the construction and operations of hydroelectric dams in Nigeria.

“We started operations in six states of Benue, Kebbi, Kogi, Niger, Plateau, Kwara and We are now in Gombe, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Taraba states”, he said.

Speaking in same vein, Mr Lee Ahenjir, Head, Planning, Research and Statistics in the Commission, said, “So far, we are extremely impressed with what we have been able to achieve in the short period of time the commission has been working.

“What we are trying to achieve in the PRS as data bankers for the Commission, through this exercise, is to gather data of the mileage the commission has been able to accomplish over these three and a half years.

“When communities take ownership of the projects,
we also support them by coming up with a maintenance budget so that the project will last and stand the test of time”, Ahenjir said.

Mr Umar Ibrahim, a community teacher at LGEA, Kumgbani in Lokoja Local Government expressed the people’s gratitude to N-HYPPADEC for the intervention in constructing a block of three classrooms saying enrollment had increased from 50 to 120 pupils.

At Community Girls’ Secondary School, Koton-Karfe, a staff of the school, Mr Zubairu Mohammed said that N-HYPPADEC’s intervention in providing classrooms and other equipment, had led to improved enrollment with its present 230 students population.

The N-HYPPADEC team assured the communities that the Needs Assessment for further interventions has been carried out with assurances of more life-changing projects. (Ends)

***Calls for Immediate Safety Reforms

The Senator representing Kogi East in the National Assembly, Jibrin Isah Echocho has sent a message of condolence to the families affected by the recent boat mishap on the River Niger.
The boat incident had claimed the lives of many market women traveling from the state to neighboring Niger State.

In a statement personally signed by the senator, Echocho conveyed profound sympathy, urging the bereaved to find solace in the face of the devastating tragedy.
He offered prayers for the peaceful repose of the deceased and comfort for the grieving families.

The accident, confirmed by the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), occurred along the Dambo-Ebuchi corridor of the River Niger, a major commercial route.
While investigations are ongoing to determine the cause, the tragedy has intensified concerns about waterway transportation safety in the region.

Senator Echocho expressed alarm over the frequency of such incidents, stressing the urgent need for comprehensive safety measures.
“The waterway connecting Kogi and Niger states has become perilous. Authorities must act swiftly to implement stringent safety protocols to prevent further loss of lives,” he urged.

He called on the government to prioritize the safety of those who depend on water transport, advocating for better infrastructure, stricter regulations, and more effective enforcement of safety standards.

Echocho also assured the victims’ families that the Kogi State government, in collaboration with federal agencies, would provide necessary support to those affected.
He emphasized the importance of community and government cooperation in helping the victims heal and rebuild.

The senator’s message comes as Kogi State continues to mourn the loss of lives, with citizens and leaders offering solidarity and support to the affected families.

The Kogi State government has pledged to assist the victims’ families and to work closely with relevant federal bodies to enhance water transport safety, ensuring that such a tragedy does not occur again.

This incident has reignited national calls for urgent reforms in Nigeria’s waterway safety regulations, as communities demand action to prevent future disasters.