The Gombe State Executive Council (SEC) has approved the N173.72 billion proposed budget for the 2023 fiscal year.

The state Commissioner for Finance, Malam Mohammed Magaji stated this at the end of the SEC meeting on Wednesday in Gombe.

He said the SEC meeting presided over by Gov. Inuwa Yahaya, approved the draft 2023 budget proposal for presentation to the State House of Assembly.

He said the N173,72 billion proposed budget for 2023 was higher than N154.61 billion for 2022, representing about an 11 percent increase.

The council, he said, approved the Medium Term Expenditure Framework earlier sent to the House of Assembly for legislation, adding that the council used it as a parameter in preparation for the 2023 Appropriation Bill.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state government on Tuesday held a town hall meeting with community and religious leaders, trade unions, and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), among others, as part of people's engagement in budget preparations.

Meanwhile, the state government says it has procured 40 buses to enhance transportation services in the state.

The Commissioner said that 30 of the busses would be supplied to Gombe Line Transport Services while 10 others to be distributed to schools, hospitals, and government agencies.