Gov. Bello Matawalle of Zamfara signed the state’s revised 2020 budget into law describing it as a “realistic guide for the progress and development of the state.”
This was contained in a statement signed by Mr Zailani Bappa, Special Adviser to the governor on Public Enlightenment, Media and Communications, and made available to newsmen in Gusau.
The statement said the governor signed the revised budget on Wednesday.
The state’s 2020 budget was reviewed downward from the earlier approved sum of N188.54 billion to N127.33 billion.
The state House of Assembly, at an extra ordinary sitting on Wednesday, passed the executive bill for the downward review of the 2020 budget and forwarded it to the governor for his assent.
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Bappa quoted governor Matawalle as saying that, “the review has become necessary for the fact that the economy has witnessed a sudden turnaround due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic which has affected, not only Zamfara state, but the Country and the whole world.”
He said the governor promised to ensure that the approved revised budget serve as realistic guide for the progress and development of the state.
NAN recalls that earlier, while presenting the executive bill, the Majority Leader, Alhaji Faruku Dosara and the Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Alhaji Muhammad Ahmad said that the 2020 budget was reduced 20 per cent in realisation of the negative economic impact of COVID-19 pandemic.