Councillors of Bafut council have voted the 2025 budget, balanced in income and expenditure at One Billion three hundred and ninety five million Francs (1,395 Billion), with 792.98 million as investment and 602.33 million as expenditure.
The budget witnesses an increase of 26.1% from the 2024 budget.
To explain this increase, Mayor Ngwakongoh Lawrence said it is because "FEICOM is financing the construction of two major bridges to the tune of 400 million Francs CFA."
"This bridge is to save lives because Christians have drowned in that river because they were going for rallies. Mothers have drowned with babies, coming back from the farm because of heavy rains. So we wrote to FEICOM and they're financing the projects. This will equally ease the transportation from the farms to the markets." Mayor Ngwakongoh said.
The deliberative arm of Bafut Council in session
The construction of the two bridges, one over the River Mbee and the other over River Mezam linking Tingoh to Nchoho and Okwala has been described by councillors as a priority project which will greatly ease circulation across the subdivision.
The funding from FEICOM comes after the council voted a deliberation during the Administrative and Management Accounts session in March to prevent farmers from going through such a nightmare.
The council also budgeted for the construction of classrooms, construction of a community hall, completion of a health center in Nchum and supply of health equipment to Akofunguba, Mankwi, Mankaniko and Njinteh amongst others.
The extension and installation of a three phase High tension from Mambu to Mundum II.
The council also plans to commence with the naming of streets within the Municipality to ease the usage of the Global Positioning system (GPS).
During the budgetary session Friday 12th December 2024, Dr Yesi Anthony, Coordinator of the Governance and resilience project ( PROLOG) sponsored by the World Bank, encouraged the council to implement sustainable projects that can last.
"We encourage the council to carryout climate resilient projects. Even if it means maintaining roads, they must go above one year. We also wish to state that projects financed by PROLOG is for investment and not for purchase of equipment." Dr Yesi said
To ensure the effective execution of projects the Mayor and the PROLOG coordinator called on the village committees to effectively follow-up up the execution of projects in 2025.
The budget falls squarely under the four aspects of the programmed budget which are;
- Basic social services
-Promotion of economic development
-Promotion of culture and sports and support to youth
-Governance and local administration
The programmed budget which is to budget for the next three years will start in 2025.
Forku Andelys, DO of Bafut encouraged the councillors to work in tandem with their Mayor for the effective realization of projects.
By
Ndi Tsembom Elvis
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