Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has announced an increase of over N150 billion in the state’s 2025 revenue projection, following higher allocations from the federal government and contributions from development partners.

Mohammed disclosed this on Tuesday while signing three bills into law at the Government House, Bauchi.

According to him, the additional funds prompted the state government to submit a supplementary expenditure proposal of N154.9 billion to the State House of Assembly for approval.

“Because of the amount gotten, there is an increase in the Federation Account and development partners. We sat down with the House because we would not just go ahead and spend the money.

“We had an excess of over N150 billion, we have appropriated it and submitted it to the House, and it has been approved. So, we are having an additional expenditure of N154,928,000,000 that is going to be spent this year, and you have seen them manifesting in terms of projects and programmes.”

The governor noted that the 2025 budget, earlier pegged at N465,085,248,317.12, has recorded over 75 percent performance, one of the highest in the country.

“This is number one in the country. We are very happy. We are doing this because we want to show good governance,” he added.

Mohammed had, on November 21, presented the N465 billion 2025 Appropriation Bill, tagged “Budget of Consolidation and Sustainable Development,” to the State House of Assembly for approval.

The budget, he said, was designed in line with the national format chart of accounts to ensure transparency and effective implementation.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, the governor announced that the budget would take effect from January 1, 2025.

Mohammed also signed into law a bill establishing a Contributory Pension Scheme to address pension challenges affecting local and state government workers.

“I will not leave this seat until all the indebtedness to civil servants is cleared. This is a covenant and, by God’s grace, I will not fail Nigerians and the people of Bauchi,” he assured.

Another bill signed into law provides for the creation of additional emirates and chiefdoms in the state. The new legislation establishes 13 new emirates and one chiefdom, in addition to the existing six emirates.

The new emirates include Burra (Burra), Danbam (Danbam), Darazo (Darazo), Duguri (Yuli), Gamawa (Gamawa), Giade (Giade), Toro (Toro), Warji (Katangar Warji), Lere (Lere), Jama’a (Nabordo), Lame (Gumau), Ari (Gadar Maiwa), and Bununu (Bununu), while the newly created Zaar Chiefdom will be sited at Mrim.

With these additions, Bauchi State now has a total of 19 emirates and one chiefdom.

Mohammed directed the State Attorney General and the Secretary to the State Government to immediately gazette the new law and distribute copies to relevant authorities.

He also warned individuals or groups against any attempt to cause unrest over the new emirates, stressing that security agencies had been fully empowered to act decisively to maintain peace and order.

“The security agencies present here have been fully empowered to act decisively in maintaining peace and order,” he said.