Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara has underscored the importance of education and healthcare as key drivers that would impact on national development.
AbdulRazaq, who is also the chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) , made thois known at the presentation of the BudgIT 2023 State of States report with theme:” Subnational Healthcare Delivery for Improved Economic Development”.
He urged state governors to bring about positive changes that would benefit the people of their states.
”By focusing on these critical sectors,I believe that states would witness significant advancements and improved quality of life for its citizens,” he said.
He said that prioritising education and healthcare, would result in significant improvements in these sectors.
“One of the key initiatives undertaken by the Lagos state is the implementation of digital devices in classrooms. Every classroom is equipped with tablets, providing teachers with a powerful tool to enhance their teaching methods.
“The tablets not only provide access to a comprehensive curriculum but also facilitate tracking and monitoring of student attendance and performance.
“This data-driven approach allows for better identification and addressing of issues such as student absenteeism and malnutrition,” he said.
To achieve this impressive transformation, he called on the states to seek inspiration from Lagos, Kaduna and Edo states that had successfully improved their education systems.
“For instance, Kaduna State took decisive action by sanctioning underperforming teachers and hiring qualified educators.
“Similarly, Lagos and Edo states employed the services of a company called New Globe, which provided tablets to every teacher, ensuring a more streamlined and effective teaching process.
“The impact of these measures has been profound. Not only have student outcomes improved, but the state has also experienced a remarkable turnaround in its relationship with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC),” he said.
He said that the Kwara was previously blacklisted by UBEC due to irregularities in school operations.
The state, he said, now has regained access to funding and support for its education programmes.
In his keynote address on the theme, “Subnational Health Delivery for Improved Economic Development, Dr Olumide Okunola, Senior Health Specialist of the World Bank Group said that the country was lagging in the demographic planning due to insufficient revenue generation, which hampers its ability to achieve positive health care outcomes.
Okunola said that there was a need to enhance the connections between the funds allocated and the resulting outcomes or achievements.
“We need to approach healthcare from a universal perspective and to grasp universality, we’d see that the number of poor and vulnerable individuals is growing daily due to factors like inflation, COVID-19, and global tensions.
“Why are we facing challenges in healthcare? We do not generate sufficient public funds to enhance health outcomes.
“The state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) potential is nearly non-existent due to heavy reliance on monthly FAAC allocations,” he explained.
NAN reports that that BudgIT’s 2023 State of States Report: Rivers came tops on Fiscal Performance Ranking, Anambra joined Lagos, Kaduna, and Ebonyi in Top 5; Zamfara, Bayelsa and Benue led at the bottom ranking.
In the 2023 edition, 36 states were ranked based on five metrics. Index A assessed their ability to cover operating expenses with Internally Generated Revenue. Index A1 looked at year-on-year IGR growth.
Index B reviewed the ability to cover expenses and loan repayments with Total Revenue. Index C assessed debt sustainability. Index D evaluated capital expenditure prioritization.
Anambra state entered the top fiscal performance rankings, Rivers retained the top spot, Cross River fell to 9th, and Adamawa improved from 33rd to 23rd.
Kebbi state saw the most significant decline, falling 13 places. Lagos and Kaduna were the only states generating enough IGR to cover expenses, while others needed seven times their IGR.
Five states couldn’t raise enough total revenue to cover recurrent expenses and resorted to borrowing. Ten states prioritized capital expenditure over recurrent.
The cumulative revenue of the states grew by 28.95 per cent, and IGR increased by 12.98 per cent. However, 17 states saw a decline in IGR.
Federal transfers increased due to higher oil prices, with 16 states heavily relying on them. Total expenditure grew by 24.7 per cent and nine states exceeded the recommended budget allocation for education. Only Sokoto and Jigawa met healthcare expenditure targets.
Operating expenses increased by 19.26 per cent and capital expenditure increased by 28.54 per cent. Personnel costs grew by 13.44 per cent and overheads increased by 23.42 per cent.
Total debt of the states rose by 13.89 per cent with domestic debt comprising 72.5 per cent. Lagos had substantial foreign debt.
States were generally within recommended debt thresholds, except for Zamfara and Cross River. To reduce reliance on federal transfers, states should diversify their tax base, prioritize capital expenditure, and address multiple taxes.
Healthcare insurance programs need expansion. Under-5 mortality rates varied across regions, with Lagos and Osun meeting SDG targets.
The report said that efforts are needed to reduce under-5 mortality rates in various states before the 2030 deadline.
