Shettima, who was represented at the event by his Special Adviser on Economic Affairs, Dr Tope Fasua, stated this during the introduction of the BudgIT 2023 State of States report with the topic “Subnational Healthcare Delivery for Improved Economic Development.”
PROPOLITICS, reports that the state of states is an annual comparative assessment of the fiscal performance and position of the 36 states of the federation. The first edition of the State of States research was conducted in 2017, and there have been four other editions after that.
Shettima highlighted the importance of gradual societal change and acknowledged the BudgIT Foundation as a catalytic institution in driving development.
“The focus of the 2023 event is on healthcare, with the understanding that good health is essential for economic growth”.
He emphasised that without a healthy society, the Gross Domestic Product(GDP), cannot thrive. While applauding the Budget Foundation’s efforts in drilling down to the state level, he also expressed the need to pay attention to local governments, particularly in rural areas.
“Many of these areas have been neglected, and the potential for economic growth lies within them,” he said.
He suggested that future initiatives should focus on these local areas and assess their progress alongside their states. He raised concerns over the efficiency of healthcare spending.
While the African Union may have recommended a certain percentage of the budget to be allocated to healthcare, the vice president , said the importance of ensuring that the funds were used effectively.
“Abandoned primary healthcare centres were cited as an example of inefficiency in spending, particularly in rural areas where there is a lack of healthcare providers,” he added.
He assured that the data and decisions presented in the BudgIT Foundation report, State of State 2023, would be taken into account and incorporated into the government’s plans.
Giving the State of States Report presentation, the BudgIT head of Research and Policy Advisory, Iniobong Usen, said that states’ reliance on transfers from the Federal Government increased from 58.4% in 2021 to 61.45% in 2022.
Usen said that at least 70% of the total revenue of 16 states comprised federal transfers, while 32 states depended on transfers from the federal government for at least 50% of their revenue. He said that the cumulative revenue of the 36 states grew by 28.95% from ₦5.12tn in 2021 to ₦6.6tn in 2022.
“The IGR of the 36 states appreciated by 12.98% from ₦1.61tn in 2021 to ₦1.82tn in 2022, denoting a strengthened domestic revenue mobilization capability.
“The IGR to GDP ratio remained very low at 1.01%. The increase in IGR did not reflect across the board as 17 states experienced a decline in their IGR from the previous year while 19 states recorded positive growth,” he explained.
Talking on the under-five death rate, he said that the southwest of the nation recorded the most reduced figures at 48 passings for each 1,000 live births while the northwest has the most exceedingly terrible territorial record with 158 passings for every 1,000 live births.
As per him, The nation over, Lagos has the most minimal numbers while Sokoto had absolutely awful.
“One in each 10 youngsters in Nigeria doesn’t come to their fifth birthday celebration, while one in each seven kids brought into the world in the Northwest doesn’t come to their fifth birthday celebration,”.
The Nation Chief, Gabriel Okeowo, said that the 2023 Territory of States release spotlights how sub nationals focus on interests in human resources advancement and the maintainability of the borrowings of the States.
Okeowo said that the state states report was a relative evaluation of the monetary exhibition and position of the 36 conditions of the league. He said that the report saw how States can fund their spending plans with incomes created inside, viz-a-vis their reliance on the Government Designation.
