The Association of Zamfara Civil Society Organizations (AZCSO) has criticized the state government’s 2025 budget, labeling it “fiscal madness” over its stark imbalance between projected revenue and proposed spending.
In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Murtala Muhammad Maru, the group expressed concerns about the financial sustainability of Governor Dauda Lawal’s N546 billion spending plan, which heavily relies on federal allocations and loans.
“With a revenue base of N32 billion, the reliance on loans and federal allocations to fund this budget is a clear red flag for economic stability,” Maru said.
The state expects to generate just 5.8% of its budget internally, relying on N223 billion from federal allocations to meet its obligations. Between January and September 2024, Zamfara only generated N18 billion in internal revenue, further highlighting its financial constraints.
Despite these concerns, Governor Lawal has signed the budget into law, emphasizing its focus on security, education, health, infrastructure, and agriculture.
Defending the ambitious spending plan, he argued that the investments were necessary to address the state’s developmental challenges.
However, AZCSO and opposition parties, argue that the state’s overdependence on loans and external funding could lead to a financial crisis.
“Borrowing recklessly to fund extravagant projects will only worsen the plight of Zamfara’s citizens,” Maru warned.
Zamfara’s economic challenges are compounded by insecurity and poverty, with analysts urging the government to focus on increasing its internally generated revenue (IGR) through taxation reforms, industrial development, and job creation.
He have called for greater fiscal responsibility, warning that the current trajectory threatens to plunge Zamfara deeper into debt, jeopardizing the state’s future.