By Mohammad Ibrahim
Kaduna (Nigeria) — Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, northwest Nigeria, Monday proposed a budget of N171.7 Billion to the State House of Assembly, with N109.3b going to capital expenditure, while N62.4bn to recurrent expenditure.
“Budget of Sacrifice, Restoration and Change,” the Governor said “aimed at making the state great again.”
The breakdown shows that Economic Sector, Agriculture & Forestry have N5,577,475,527.60, Commerce, Industry And Tourism Got
N1,336,000,000.00, while Works, Housing And Transport, have
N31,352,898,071.95.
Others include Education With 27,548,679,874.23 , Health
6,661,683,063.73 and Social Development got 461,551,200.00 .
“The budget proposals restore the minimum of 60:40 ratio in favour of capital expenditure. This is in keeping with our agenda to expand access to Education, Healthcare, Jobs and Security.
“Our investments in infrastructure and interventions in school feeding, planting of economic trees, and waste collection, are expected to create 200,000 direct and indirect jobs amongst youths, women and other vulnerable groups.
“Following the town hall meeting and other public consultations, we have revised upwards the capital estimates to accommodate projects like the reconstruction of the collapsed dam in Birnin-Gwari, clearance of inherited arrears on Zaria Water project and construction of access roads that will bring the Kagoro Hills tourism project closer to realisation.
“the 2016 revenue and expenditure estimates add up to N171.7 billion, comprising N109.3bn (64%) capital and N62.4 (36%) recurrent components. Our fiscal assumptions are based on a conservative benchmark crude oil price, at about US $39.50 per barrel.
“Any excess revenues arising from oil price appreciation will be saved and accounted fully to this Honourable House for supplementary appropriation if needed, as required by the Constitution before spending.
“With your accelerated passage of our fiscal responsibility, land administration and tax reform bills into law this year, we intend in 2016 to grow internally generated revenue such that it attains parity with federal statutory allocations. Our intention is to be paying all public service salaries from IGR by the end of 2016.”
El-rufai also said his administration will construct a 90 kilometres ring road that will link eastern end western sectors of the state metropolis and decongest the township roads.
The Governor said the road project which is intended to pass behind Rigasa to Millennium City is going to be a Public, Private Partnership, on which discussion had reached advanced stage.
El-Rufai equally disclosed that, a total of N30 million has been set aside in the proposed budget for the establishment of Kaduna Sports Academy along Kaduna-Abuja Road.
“Kaduna Ring Road is a 90km toll road that will link the Eastern and Western sectors of Kaduna from behind Rigasa and across River Kaduna beyond Millennium City.
“The project is intended to be a PPP and discussions have advanced with domestic and international firms to begin construction in 2016. The amount in the budget is for feasibility studies and engineering designs plus equity contribution for the project’s take-off.
“In order to provide avenues to engage our youths and develop talent in sports, we plan to establish a Sports Academy in the State. Already, the site for the Academy has been identified along Kaduna-Abuja Road. A provision of N30,000,000 has been made in the 2016 budget for planning and preliminary design of the Academy;
“On water, with N11.4bn for Zaria Water project arrears and current payments, waterworks rehabilitation projects in Ikara, Kafanchan, Kagoro, Kaduna, Kwoi, Manchok, Saminaka, the old Zaria plant and the ABU Samaru waterworks.
