By Juliana Katung
Kaduna (Nigeria) – Local Government Councils in Kaduna State have proposed to spend a combined figure of N55,991,240,959.84 in their year 2018 budget.
The sum of N34.8 billion is earmarked as recurrent, representing 62.24% of the budget, while the sum of N21.1 billion will go to capital expenditure, representing 37.7%.
The 23 Local Government Councils appeared Monday before the State House of Assembly Committee on Appropriation to defend the budget estimates.
Speaking with journalists shortly after the budget defence, Chairman House committee on Appropriation, Ahmed Mohammed, said, ” the exercise was conducted smoothly and the total estimates of N55,991,240,959.84 has been scrutinised by the members. I believe each and every items put in the budget will benefit the people of the local governments and the entire state”
Also speaking, Chairman, Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Yahaya Sale, said, Kaduna state government has proposed zero based budget, which is a rolling budget year.
“We have no problem, because we have sat down with most members at individual local government level, deliberated with them to locate grey areas and make corrections, which is why the budget defence went on smoothly and all process was harmonised,” he said.
speaking on the introduction of a community budget in the state, “this is kind of budget which started in England and it aids looking inward, to locate the problems of the community and then check to see if the government can afford to tackle the problem located or not.
“If the government cannot afford to meet up with these new needs then private organisations are called upon to come make investment with the hope of making the community enjoy what the government is unable to provide.
He urged organisations to invest in building of schools, hospitals, roads and provision of subsidised services to people.
https://www.africaprimenews.com/2018/02/02/news/nigeria-gombe-legislature-passes-2018-budget-of-114-billion-naira/
