The Zamfara State Government has announced that it generated a total revenue of ₦358.9 billion in 2024, representing 82% of the approved revenue estimate of ₦437 billion.
The disclosure was made by the State Auditor-General, Abubakar Danmaliki, in Gusau on Thursday during the presentation of the state’s 2024 Citizens Accountability Report.
Danmaliki explained that the main sources of revenue included statutory allocations, Value Added Tax (VAT), Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), and aids and grants.
“In the year under review, we witnessed modest growth in VAT, federal allocations, and IGR,” he said. “I must commend the current administration under Governor Dauda Lawal for strengthening internal revenue administration, blocking leakages, and improving taxpayer education and compliance.”
Speaking earlier, the Commissioner of Finance, Bello Auta, described the presentation as the maiden edition of the Citizens Accountability Report in the state.
He revealed that citizens nominated projects worth ₦105 billion, which were successfully executed and completed across various communities, including initiatives under the Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) program.
Auta highlighted that prior to the current administration, Zamfara faced challenges such as non-retirement of advances, spending IGR at the point of generation, and poor payment documentation.
“With improved accountability, transparency, and prudent resource management, these issues have been effectively addressed and reversed,” he said.
He further explained that the 2024 Budget, themed “Budget of Consolidation and Continuity,” was passed on December 29, 2023, and its implementation began on January 1, 2024.
According to him, the actual revenue collected was ₦79 billion less than the target, representing an 18% shortfall.
- Capital expenditure recorded a 55% performance rate of the ₦292 billion budgeted amount.
- Recurrent expenditure on personnel was 16% below the approved budget.
- Other recurrent expenditures stood at 63% of the budgeted figure.
Auta noted that the administrative sector accounted for the highest share of recurrent spending at 74%, while the economic sector received the largest share of capital expenditure at 41%.
He added that the top 10 capital projects of the current administration, covering the period ending December 31, 2024, are at various advanced stages of completion.
In his remarks, Governor Dauda Lawal, represented by the Head of Service, Alhaji Yakubu Haidara, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in governance.
He emphasized that governance is a collective responsibility and not a closed-door process, stressing the importance of ensuring that citizens feel the impact of government policies and understand how public funds are utilized.
“As we all know, the Citizens Accountability and Financial Report provides a transparent summary of how the state’s resources are mobilized and spent to deliver services and infrastructure to residents,” he said.
“I want to assure the good people of Zamfara that my administration will continue to keep them informed about financial commitments, performance, and the utilization of public funds.”