•budget prioritizes project completion, workers’ welfare

•House commends govt for prudence

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Friday signed the 2022 budget, with the capital expenditure now pegged at 56%, indicating a commitment to complete many of the ongoing infrastructural projects.

The size of the budget is *N189,617,487,624* -- 44% of it being for recurrent expenditure. The House passed the budget on Thursday.

The proposal from the executive had pegged the CAPEX at 55.3% of the total package while the recurrent stood at 44.7%.

Speaking shortly after signing the budget, the Governor said the budget also captured workers’ promotion and the consequential adjustment component of the national minimum wage — the payment of which begins this month amid applause from various labour unions.

"Some of the highlights of the budget included the implementation of the consequential adjustment of minimum wage and paying some salary arrears that could not be paid by the previous administration. We are equally doing cash backing of promotions. Those are some of the major challenges for the administration,” he said, in what underscored his passion for workers’ welfare.

“We will also focus on completing ongoing infrastructural projects, job creation and expanding the economic base of the state. We will try to ensure full implementation of the budget as much as revenue permits.

“I must commend the House for doing the needful to ensure that the budget is passed on time. We appreciate the work you have done.”

Some of the dignitaries at the budget signing are House of Assembly Speaker Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu;