According to the 2023 edition of BudgIT’s annual ‘States of States’ report, Lagos and Kaduna states stand out as the only two among Nigeria’s 36 states that generate more revenue than required to cover their operating costs.
BudgIT released a report titled ‘Subnational Healthcare Delivery for Improved Economic Development’. The report was unveiled yesterday and evaluates the fiscal performance of all 36 states in Nigeria, ranking them from the most to the least sustainable.
Nancy Odimegwu, Communications Associate of BudgIT, stated that this year’s report reveals that Lagos and Kaduna have shown impressive fiscal performance by generating more revenue than required to manage their operating costs. She commended this achievement, especially considering the economic challenges most states in the country are facing.
The report also emphasizes the state of healthcare delivery at the state level and its importance in promoting economic development. Anambra State made its debut in this year’s fiscal performance table, referred to as “Index A,” while Rivers State retained its number one position for the fourth consecutive time. However, Cross River fell from the top five to the ninth position.
Adamawa State has shown significant improvement, climbing ten places to the 23rd position from its 33rd ranking in the previous year. “This is a testament to the state’s dedication to improving its economic standing,” Odimegwu added.
On the other hand, Kebbi State experienced a significant decline, dropping 13 places down to the 28th position on the fiscal performance ranking. Furthermore, states such as Taraba, Katsina, Bayelsa, and Zamfara required more than seven times their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to manage their operating costs, highlighting the financial challenges these states face.
BudgIT hopes that this report will serve as a valuable resource for engagement and advocacy efforts aimed at improving fiscal performance and healthcare delivery at the state level.